Alzheimer’s Disease: Recognizing early symptoms, taking action

By Jada Gaines CONTRIBUTOR

It’s estimated that approximately 6 million people in the United States will develop and suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease. In fact, Alzheimer’s is one of the top 10 leading causes of deaths among people in the United States.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys and impacts memory and thinking skills. The Alzheimer’s Association further defines the disease as being a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior and symptoms eventually may become so severe that it interferes with a person’s ability to do or complete daily tasks.

Alzheimer’s accounts for 60% to 80% of diagnosed dementia cases. Contrary to some assertions, Alzheimer’s is not considered a normal part of aging. Yes, the greatest known risk factor associated with the disease is increasing age and majority of people suffering from the disease are 65 and older. However, there are many cases involving people younger than 65 who have been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, which then worsens as the disease progresses.

Recognizing a few of these most common early symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be pertinent in receiving an early diagnosis:

• Memory loss that disrupts your normal daily life

• Confusion with time, place or location

• Difficulty communicating

• Misplacing items

• Withdrawal from social events, work, or hobbies

• Mood or personality changes

It’s no doubt that receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be an overwhelming amount of information to begin to process. You’ll have many questions surrounding thoughts on how you should begin to plan for the future, where to start, and what the future may look like for you and your family, etc.

All the questions you will have are valid concerns and no one should make you feel otherwise. In an effort to help you maneuver through your web of questions and transitions that you will begin to make, consulting with an elder law attorney should be one of your top priorities.

When it comes to estate planning after you have received a diagnosis, at minimum, you should get reliable powers of attorney (both durable power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney) in place. A durable power of attorney is a document in which you name an agent to act on your behalf when you’re unavailable or in the event of incapacity and/or incompetency to manage your business and financial affairs etc.

A healthcare power of attorney is a docu- ment in which you name an agent to act on your behalf in the event of incapacity and/or incompetency to make all general medical decisions for you when you’re unable to communicate your own medical needs. This document should be comprehensive and include more than just your end-of-life decisions.

Both powers of attorney are important to have in place because without the documents, your loved ones might have to seek guardianship or conservatorship over you – which is a costly financial burden and time-consuming.

Even if you haven’t received a dementia diagnosis, there is no harm in planning ahead and getting your estate plan affairs in order. Speak with an elder law attorney today.

Jada L. Gaines is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluffton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com

PRIMARY CARE FOR AGES 50+

HALO Primary Care is a new primary care office in Bluffton, SC. Here at HALO, we believe you should be in charge of your health. We understand that each patient is different; therefore, we strive to work with you to develop a plan of care that is obtainable and reasonable.

• House calls are offered to homebound patients living in the 29909 and 29910 zip codes.

• Telehealth visits are also offered for established patients.