The Fight Against Alzheimer's

September was World Alzheimer's Awareness Month and there were numerous efforts throughout the month to raise awareness about the disease. The video above has Maria Shriver hosting a Google Hangout with a discussion about the disease and the impact it’s having on people all over the world. You can learn more about the disease through the Alzheimer's Association or the Alzheimer's Community Care websites.

Along with raising awareness, there’s a renewed push to treat the disease. Unfortunately, recent attempts to treat late-stage Alzheimer's patients have not been very encouraging. With that, some in the R&D community are shifting the focus of their research to prevention. For example, the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix recently landed a $33 million NIH grant to see if an anti-amyloid therapy can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. The focus will be on early-stage and high-risk patients who could benefit the most from therapies that would prevent the disease as opposed to fully developed cases.

While these long-term issues are being addressed, many families are confronted with the realities of the disease on a daily basis. In our experience working with families, we’ve seen how overwhelming and stressful it can be to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. We’ve also seen how every case is different and the importance of creating a care plan that meets a specific patient’s needs.

Fortunately, it is often possible for a person with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia to live in the comfort of their own home provided caregivers are in place and safety measures are put in place to prevent wandering or driving. It’s important for caregivers to follow a daily routine for each patient and then be prepared to adapt as the disease progresses. It’s also important to be creative and flexible. Our referred registered nurses have experience in assessing and evaluating the level of care given to the patient, and to report to the patient's physician.

Learn more here about how Whitsyms can help you and your family manage this difficult condition.