Alzheimer’s Caregiver Resources

Know the Facts about Alzheimer’s

• Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that attacks the brain and causes dementia, or a decline in mental abilities that impairs memory, thinking, and behavior involved in daily activities.
• Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, which means that it keeps getting worse in stages over time.
• Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.2 million Americans over 65 and as many as 200,000 Americans under 65.
• Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, although aging is the greatest risk factor involved in Alzheimer’s.
• Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments, such as medication, that can make managing Alzheimer’s easier.
• Almost 15 million Americans care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. *Source: Alzheimer’s Association

MedicAlert®+ Safe Return®: Safety and Peace of Mind for Alzheimer’s Care

At MedicAlert®, we know how important it is to have the right Alzheimer’s care resources and how important peace of mind is when you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why we’re working with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring you the MedicAlert + Safe Return membership.

What would you do if your loved one with Alzheimer’s needed medical treatment? What if your loved one with Alzheimer’s was found wandering? Would emergency and medical personnel be able to return your loved one safely home, and would they know what to do to make sure that the wishes and directives of you or your loved one were honored? These are some of the biggest concerns on the minds of Alzheimer’s caregivers.

With MedicAlert + Safe Return, you can worry less about these concerns. A MedicAlert + Safe Return membership gives your loved one with Alzheimer’s a far greater likelihood of getting the best treatment and care, and helps in returning them home safely and sooner, thanks to our live 24/7 support.

Know the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include these 10 signs:

• Memory loss and forgetfulness, especially forgetting new information
• Increased trouble with planning, solving problems, concentration, and following instructions
• Increased trouble with familiar daily tasks involved in work or play
• Losing track of time, dates, or seasons
• Increased trouble with visual tasks like reading, color perception, and spatial perception
• New problems with speaking, writing, or understanding language
• Misplacing items, placing items in unusual places, or losing the ability to retrace steps to find lost items
• Poorer judgment, decision making, handling of finances, and personal care
• Withdrawal from work, hobbies, social activities, or family
• Changes in mood and personality or inappropriate emotional reactions
• These signs are not “just a part of getting older.” Early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s is important when it comes to better treatment and care. If you or a loved one shows any of these symptoms, talk to a health care professional right away.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Important Information for Caregivers
As a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, you can do a lot to help your loved one. Your loved one with Alzheimer’s can benefit from your help with tasks like:

• Grocery shopping, cooking, and feeding
• Bathing, personal hygiene, grooming, and dressing
• Paying bills and managing finances
• Transportation
• Picking up prescriptions and going to doctor’s appointments
• Providing opportunities for social interaction

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be challenging, so it’s also important to take care of yourself.

• Maintain healthy habits like eating right, getting regular exercise, and getting enough rest.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others when you need it.
• If you are feeling stressed often or find it hard to manage stress, get help.
• Prepare yourself and get help for difficult conversations, such as giving up driving and planning for long-term care.
• Learn how best to handle difficult situations, such as wandering away or emotional outbursts.