Information I gathered about Alzheimer's for the Global Family Reunion 2015. Disclaimer: I did find this information off Alzheimer support websites on the internet.

1. Alzheimer’s & the Family
Tina Sansone
BellaOnline.com Writer & Editor
ResearchDNAWriters Co-Owner
“A Savory Spotlight”, LA Talk Radio Co-Host
Second Life-APG Chapter President

2. ALZHEIMERS?
 Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological brain disorder.
 Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of
dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental
functioning.
 Alzheimer’s is progressive and irreversible.
 Memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms, along
with a gradual decline of other intellectual and
thinking abilities, called cognitive functions, and
changes in personality or behavior.

4. Who is affected?
 35 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease.
 5.3 million people in the US have Alzheimer’s disease.
 Every 70 seconds someone in America develops
Alzheimer’s disease.
 Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death in people 65
and older.
 Death from Alzheimer’s rose 46.1% from 2000 to 2006 .
 54% of the U.S. population has been touched in some way
by Alzheimer’s disease.
 Approximately 454,000 people will develop Alzheimer’s
in 2010.
 At current rates, 19 million Americans will have
Alzheimer’s by the year 2050.

5. Stages of Alzheimer’s
• -Stage 1: Normal
• Mentally healthy person
• -Stage 2: Normal aged forgetfulness
• Persons over the age of 65 experience subjective complaints of cognitive and/or functional
difficulties
• -Stage 3: Mild cognitive impairment
• The capacity to perform executive functions also becomes compromised. Commonly, for
persons who are still working, job performance may decline.
• -Stage 4: Mild Alzheimer’s disease
• The most common functioning deficit in these patients is a decreased ability to manage
instrumental (complex) activities of daily life.(ability to manage finances and to prepare
meals for guests etc.)
• - Stage 5: Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
• This is manifest in a decrement in the ability to choose proper clothing to wear for the
weather conditions and/or for the daily circumstances (occasions).
• -Stage 6: Moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease
• At this stage, the ability to perform basic activities of daily life becomes compromised.
• -Stage 7: Severe Alzheimer’s disease
• At this stage, AD patients require continuous assistance with basic activities of daily life for
survival.

6. Family Tips
• Continue participating in as many activities as you can.
• Find new activities you can do together.
• Discuss early on what help your loved one wants, what do
they wish to do alone if able.
• Discuss caregivers and costs early; make them a part of the
process.
• Attend support groups.
• Connect with others.

7. Tips continued
• Talk to the kids/grandkids about the changes of your loved ones.
• Let them know its ok to laugh
• Let them know there will be good days & bad days
• It’s ok to grieve for the person the loved one use to be.
• Share pictures and stories, videos
• Visit often or call them. Do not be visually upset if they start
forgetting who you are. Prepare emotionally for this before it
happens best you can.

8. Caregiver’s Role
• Keeping appointments
• Remembering words or names
• Recalling familiar places or people
• Managing money
• Keeping track of medications
• Doing familiar tasks
• Planning or organizing
• Tap into the person's strengths and encourage him or her to continue living as independently as
possible. You can help the person stay organized with shared calendars, notes, medication schedules
and other reminder systems. Establishing a daily routine and maintaining some regularity will be of
benefit.
• The person also will need emotional support. He or she may feel frustrated, anxious, embarrassed or
isolated. You can help by:
• Encouraging the person to share his or her feelings, and asking how you can be supportive
• Encouraging the person to stay involved in activities he or she enjoys
• Helping the person locate a support group for people in the early stages and their care partners

9. Alzheimer’s Facility
• If family has to put a loved on in an Alzheimer’s facility, they are not
abandoning the loved one. Sometimes it is needed to help them be
safe, and to live to their fullest potential.
• They may need help with self care, and your immediate family may
not be able to quit work to do the full time care. Or the loved one
may be too heavy for you to physically move; so the facilities are
the best option.
• Make the decision to go to facility a family decision if you can.
• If your loved one lives with you , check into the day time facilities.