“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Socrates
We first started noticing something was off when Mom was taking dirty dishes out of the dishwasher and putting them away. She was normally exceptionally efficient at maintaining a clean and well-functioning kitchen. Then we observed that she was asking the same questions over and over again. We knew something was wrong and we feared it was the start of something bad.
After consulting with a specialist, our worst fears were confirmed: our beloved mom had Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects the parts of the brain that control memories, thoughts, and speech. It affects over 55 million people worldwide. Generally, it affects people 65 and older, and many who are living with it don’t realize they have it. The most common symptom is memory loss, but there are other indicators.
Because June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, we want to share some of the signs that a person in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may experience in addition to memory problems. According to www.alz.org, these can include:
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Having trouble handling money and paying bills
- Repeating questions
- Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
- Displaying poor judgment
- Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
- Displaying mood and personality changes
The disease eventually took our mom’s life. At her celebration of life, we wore purple and had displays of purple flowers, the symbolic color of the Alzheimer’s awareness movement. If you suspect a loved one may have Alzheimer’s, seek professional medical attention immediately.