1. Vascular Dementia (caused by poor blood flow to the brain)

2. Mixed Dementia (caused by more than one medical condition)

3. Dementia with Lewy bodies (caused by abnormal protein deposits in nerve cells in the brain stem)

4. Parkinsons Dementia (caused by Parkinson’s Diesease which is a chronic progressive neurological condition)

5. Frontotemporal Dementia (rare disorder which causes damage to brain cells in the frontal& temporal lobes)

6. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus ( involves accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, inability to function due to pressure caused by fluid buildup.

7. Creutzfeldt-Jacob Dementia (mad cow disease – caused by viruses that interfere with normal brain function)

8. Mild Cognitive Impairment (caused by medical illness and / or medications)

9. Huntington’s Disease (inherited progressive dementia)

10. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrom (caused by deficiency in thiamine (B1), occurs often in alcoholics)

Not every doctor is familiar with the complexities of dementia diagnosis, so you will need to find a doctor who is experienced at diagnosing dementia types.

Risk factors to consider include:

Age, Family History, Heredity, Constant Forgetfulness, Unable to follow simple directions, Personality Changes, Loss of interest in favorite hobbies.

These are just a few early signs in someone that might have developed early dementia.

ASAP

Arizona Senior Assistance Program

ASAP is a home visit program that focuses on homebound seniors with high risk of falls. Our many volunteers are certified caregivers many employed by the local Assisted Living Communities, that offer their time to provide friendly once a day home visit for up to 2 weeks, to assure safety for the most vulnerable homebound residents.

The most recent annual data from the Census Bureau reports that 7.5 million senior women and 2.6 million senior men live alone. The primary concerns for those seniors who live alone is security and safety. Did you know that as many as 60% of seniors living alone have no regular visitors? So many are sick, hardly able to care for themselves, and are with no family or friends, afraid of falling or even dying while alone, many dealing with some level of confusion or dementia. It is such a lonely life for a person who has given so much of their lifetime to others, and yet, when it is their time to get some help, there is no one there for them.

SeniorFocusOnline.com offers ASAP Program to aid Elderly who are living alone by combining supportive community and providing complementary daily home visits, to help keep our seniors safer and also provide education on care options.

ALHO

Members belong to ALHO attended regular meetings for educational, fellowship, sharing and inspiration.  ALHO GROUP is a service organization; it doesnt prescribe a way of life for others but acts as a forum for diverse ideas regarding assisted living home community.

ALHO is an Assisted Living Homes Organization that was formed in November 2008.

The Purpose and Mission in forming this group is to unite all assisted living facilities, make a difference, to do the right thing, and help each other. All members are equal and no one above and beyond everyone. We are not a typical stereotype organization; we are committed in doing an excellent job and provide utmost service in this industry the best we can.  We welcome suggestions, comments and even criticisms to maintain and improve our services.

Our vision is to partner with different agencies associated in this industry to alleviate some of the difficulties and get answers when encountering challenges.

Our objective is to invite guests on a regular basis to help us educate and discuss important issues for better understanding so that we can all succeed in excellence.

Very often, family members of those with advanced Alzheimer’s/Dementia and physical disabilities are not capable of providing optimal care for their elderly loved ones. For many seniors group homes or assisted living apartments are a very positive option. They can provide a great deal of adult independence and allow residents to build friendships with others.

With the very best of intentions, families make the difficult decision to rely upon the expertise of a group home or care facility for 24-hour care and supervision. Unfortunately, many times the facility can not meet the needs of the individual and the care facility do not always have the same commitment to the special-needs the residents requires in their care possibly resulting in tragedy. That is why consulting with an expert is a recommended option. (602-616-7800) Anyone can and should report all suspected abuse and neglect. If you suspect that you or someone you love may be victims of abuse, contact local Elder Law Attorneys or report it to the following organizations:

-       ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES 1-877-767-2385 (24HR.)

-       DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES (DHS) 602-542-1001

Assisted Living Facilities may be the best places to put aging parents and grandparents who require assistance with daily living activities. Although Assisted Living Apartments, Group Homes or Nursing Homes can be great places, make sure you recognize signs of abuse or neglect. Recognizable signs of abuse include

-       LOCK OF HYGIENE

-       PRESSURE SORES

-       UNEXPLAINED INJURIES

-       SUDDEN DEATH

-       INADEQUATE STAFF

-       UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT

-       URINE OR FECAL ODORS

-       RESTRAINED RESIDENTS

-       INADEQUATE RECORDS

-       POOR SUPERVISION

-       VISABLE CUTS, BRUISES, OR WELTS

-       ALLEGED ABUSE

-       NOT ENOUGH FOOD

-       INADEQUATE CLOTHING

The most common types of abuse are:

-     Neglect

-     Emotional/Psychological Abuse

-     Physical Abuse

-     Financial/Material Exploitation

10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S:

Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory.People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning — problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual’s work, social activities and family life.

1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.

What’s normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.

What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for “that thing for my mouth.”

What’s normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.

What’s normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.

What’s normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.

What’s normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

What’s normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.

8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.

What’s normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.

9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.

What’s normal? People’s personalities do change somewhat with age.

10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.

What’s normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.

Information obtained from: Alzheimer’s Association National Office 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 Alzheimer’s Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization