On March 13, Whitewater has a chance to hear from a local community member who has seen dementia from both sides.  Randy Cruse was a caregiver for his wife and he is now an educator with the Alzheimer’s Association.  Randy will give a presentation on the Ten Warning Signs of Dementia on Thursday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center.  Everyone is welcome.  Refreshments will be served.  

Randy’s talk will be interesting to all ages but especially to those age 40 to 50 which is when people typically find a loved one is in need of more help.   The presentation will distinguish typical age-related behaviors from true signs of a problem.  For example, age-related memory change that most of us experience includes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.  The brain is still able to “search its files,” find hints and logical connections to the type of information that needs to be brought forward.  This is different from signs that might indicate Alzheimer’s or related dementias. A degree of memory loss that disrupts daily life such as forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important dates or events, asking the same question repeatedly and depending on friends or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

All of us need occasional help using microwave settings, recording a TV show or help with an unfamiliar computer task.  That’s different from problems with daily tasks, getting lost driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a familiar game.  Those could be an early sign of dementia.

You will learn about several other types of behavioral changes that indicate your loved one should be evaluated for Alzheimer’s.  These signs shouldn’t be ignored.  New drugs and lifestyle changes have helped many patients.  Knowledge about what the patient is feeling and going through can be invaluable to caregivers in navigating this new relationship.  The community is cordially invited to Randy’s informative presentation on March 13.

For more information:    https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help educate the community about dementia and to support patients and caregivers.  New committee members are very welcome!  Contact jjackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535.