At American House Senior Living Communities we understand that if you, or your loved one, have been given a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease you need a place to stay where you can feel secure, engaged and connected. The American House memory care services are ideal for individuals with dementia or who require a higher level of skill and supervision. Our memory care services are offered by a third-party home care company and are in a secure environment with 24-hour medical assistance, life enrichment programs
Because we are so experienced in the older adult field, we also understand there is a myriad of myths that surround Alzheimer’s Disease and we wanted to help “bust” a few of those in this article. In the United States, Alzheimer’s Disease is the leading cause of death and millions of Americans are affected.
There is a lot of misinformation online and many myths surrounding this cruel disease.
5 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same. The terms may be incorrectly used interchangeably but there are major differences. Impaired memory, reasoning, behavior and impaired thinking are signs of dementia. Alzheimer’s is one of the most common causes of dementia, but there are different types of dementia that someone can be diagnosed with.
- It is hereditary. Many people believe that if their parents had Alzheimer’s disease, they will also be diagnosed with it. While there is a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s if a parent has it, it doesn’t mean you will develop it.
- You have to be older than 70 to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms do occur in older adults, but symptoms can appear in your mid-60s and you could develop mild symptoms even earlier in life.
- It’s “normal” to develop Alzheimer’s as we age. You may become forgetful as you age but that doesn’t mean you’re developing Alzheimer’s disease. But if you start losing track of time and not recognizing friends or family are signs that you should talk with your doctor who can perform assessments to gauge your memory.
- There are no treatments available. While there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there has been medical progress toward better treatments and coping strategies for those with the disease.
While you cannot prevent Alzheimer’s disease there are lifestyle changes and steps you can take that might help reduce your risk of developing it. A healthy lifestyle including controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight and staying mentally and physically active could help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
We know that many people believe that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a death sentence, but it isn’t. Many people with Alzheimer’s live from four to eight years after diagnosis, but many can live longer. In the beginning stages, the person is diagnosed with mild memory loss. As the disease progresses the individual will lose physical and mental capacity and that’s why we recently opened our memory care units at American House.
Our personalized plan offers five daily enrichment opportunities where residents are encouraged to participate in physical, mental and expressive activities. It helps residents feel secure, engaged and connected to their surroundings.
We welcome the opportunity to introduce you to one of our memory care communities. Our compassionate team will be happy to meet with you to help determine the right fit for your loved one.
Contact an American House Senior Living community near you and take a tour.
American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.
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