Do you believe someone you love may have Alzheimer’s? The Alzheimer’s Association reports that more than 5 million people across America live with Alzheimer’s. Below are ten of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s to watch out for.

1. Challenges in planning or solving problems: Things that your loved one used to be familiar with may now become more difficult (i.e. difficulty following a recipe they used to make weekly).
2. Memory loss that disrupts daily life: Your loved one may not remember new information such as recent events, names, and where things go.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or work.
4. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships: Your loved one may have difficulty reading, determining color or contrast, or judging distance.
5. Confusion about time or plate: Those with Alzheimer’s may lose track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time.
6. New problems with speaking or writing words: Your loved one may have trouble completing their sentences, finding the appropriate words for the conversation, or following conversations.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: People with Alzheimer’s may put their things in strange places or accuse people of stealing.
8. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
9. Changes in mood or personality: Keep a lookout for increased depression, fearfulness, anxiety, or suspicion. Your loved one may also have rapid and persistent mood swings or show disinterest in usual activities.
10. Decreased or poor judgment when making decisions: For example, your loved one may easily fall into a monetary scam or pay less attention to their daily hygiene routine.

If someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, here are a few ways that you can provide Alzheimer’s support:

1. Educate yourself about the disease
2. Address financial, legal, and long term care planning
3. Encourage cognitive stimulation
4. Build a support system

Visiting Angels of Spartanburg would also recommend that you arrange for professional Alzheimer’s support, whether for a couple of hours a week or long-term. It’s best to find someone who has professional training (i.e. Dementia Care Professionals of America training). For example, Visiting Angels of Spartanburg has an Alzheimer’s care program that is specifically designed to cater to common side effects of Alzheimer’s.

To learn more about your options for Alzheimer’s support, call 864-881-0520 or request Alzheimer’s care here.