Learning to Recognize Common Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and at Christian Health we believe that advocating for those with this disease starts by educating others on how to effectively recognize the most-common signs and symptoms in their loved ones. The earlier Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, the more effectively treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

If you believe your loved one may be exhibiting early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to seek further medical evaluation. While some forgetfulness and confusion can simply be a normal part of aging, older adults with early Alzheimer’s disease will often experience slightly more-severe symptoms, including the following

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life: Some memory loss is normal and a common sign of aging; however, significant memory loss that affects daily life, such as the inability to retain any new information or forgetting the names of loved ones, is often a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Confusion with familiar tasks: Forgetting how to perform daily tasks, such as how to use the microwave or organize a grocery list, is common in people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Trouble solving problems or working with numbers: Simple math and problem solving can become difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Poor judgment that leads to bad decisions: People with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in judgment or decision-making, including making poor choices regarding money or paying less attention to hygiene.
• Loss of initiative: People with Alzheimer’s disease may become unmotivated and take longer to complete daily tasks.
• Repeating questions: Asking the same question over and over again is often an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Wandering and getting lost: People with Alzheimer’s disease will often have trouble finding their way around familiar places.
• Losing things or misplacing them in odd places: While misplacing items is common, especially with age, someone with Alzheimer’s disease may leave belongings in strange places, such as putting a wristwatch in the refrigerator.
• Mood and personality changes or increased anxiety and/or aggression: People with Alzheimer’s disease may become more easily frustrated, lash out, or exhibit signs of depression or anxiety.
• Withdrawal from work or social activities: People with Alzheimer’s disease often grow withdrawn and reclusive and may spend less time participating in social activities that they once enjoyed.

Getting Care for Alzheimer’s Disease

Christian Health is dedicated to providing compassionate care and mental-health services to people of all ages. Across our communities we offer a range of comprehensive memory support and skilled nursing care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Please contact us if you need more information about our available care services and communities or would like to schedule a tour.

• Courtyard at Longview: Memory Care Assisted Living – designed to meet the needs of those with early stages of dementia and memory loss. Please contact Victoria Durante at (201) 848-4303 or vdurante@ChristianHealthNJ.org.

• Heritage Manor: Compassionate Skilled Nursing Care – specialized care for patients with more-advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Please call (201) 848-5855 or email LongTermCare@ChristianHealthNJ.org.
• Southgate Special Care: Compassionate Skilled Nursing Care – behavior management care for adults who have behavioral disturbances associated with dementia and other illnesses. Please call (201) 848-5855 or email LongTermCare@ChristianHealthNJ.org.