| Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. It is a progressive and fatal brain disease and as many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
For many people and families, a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can leave them feeling alone and frightened. A new Alzheimer’s Support Group at Daviess Community Hospital will allow these patients and their families to come together to share information and support.
The support group will meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. in the Education Center at Daviess Community Hospital in Washington. The first meeting is on January 28th.
For more information about the Alzheimer’s Support Group, please call Mandy Isza in the hospital’s Transitions Behavioral Health Service at 254-8620, Extension 1622. | 10 Warning Signs for Alzheimer’s Disease
Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
Challenges in planning or solving problems.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
Confusion with time or place.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
New problems with words in speaking or writing.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
Decrease or poor judgment.
Withdrawal from work or social activities.
Changes in mood and personality.
Everyone may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see your doctor.
Source: Transitions Behavioral Health Service at Daviess Community Hospital, Washington, Indiana. |