{"id":6344,"date":"2020-05-19T13:16:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T13:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alwaysbestcare.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/19\/families-facing-early-memory-loss-are-not-alone\/"},"modified":"2020-05-19T13:16:19","modified_gmt":"2020-05-19T13:16:19","slug":"families-facing-early-memory-loss-are-not-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysbestcarecanada.ca\/kitchener-waterloo\/resources\/families-facing-early-memory-loss-are-not-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Families Facing Early Memory Loss are Not Alone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the questions that I receive most frequently goes something like this: why are there so many more people being diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease (AD) and other dementias today compared to two or three generations ago?  The simple answer is that more of us are living longer today than ever before and age is the number one risk factor for developing dementia.  In fact, about 40% of individuals over the age of 80 have some form of cognitive impairment and if you haven\u2019t heard, those living past 85 is one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
In-home Caregiver in Kitchener-waterloo<\/div>\n \n \n GET IN TOUCH \n <\/span>\n \n \n <\/use>\n <\/svg> \n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a secondary reason for an increase in the diagnosis of dementia.  The assessment tools available to diagnose a broad spectrum of cognitive impairment are more accurate now than they were 20 or 30 years ago.  Because AD is the most feared disease amongst adults over the age of 55, individuals who experience memory challenges may be more likely to check in with a health care professional to determine the cause and hopefully rule out a progressive neurodegenerative disorder like AD.  This, along with an increase in public awareness of strategies to promote prevention of neurodegenerative disorders, the number of individuals diagnosed in the early stages of AD and other dementias has increased significantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receiving a diagnosis of AD or another dementia can be debilitating for both patient and family.  Fear of the unknown and what will happen next is a common source of stress.  Additionally, families are often uninformed about the causes and types of dementia, how they progress and what to expect at each stage, how to plan for long term care, and where to find support in the community. Taken together, this lack of information and support may exact an excessive emotional toll on all involved.  Gratefully, I may have some solutions for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For residents of the South Bay and other communities in Southern California, people living early memory loss have access to community-based programs specifically designed to instill hope, build community, and provide access to expert information all in an effort towards living one\u2019s best life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\n