Does your loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s or show symptoms of the disease? The experienced and caring staff at PeachTree Place Assisted Living Community in Ogden, UT, can help. We believe that with ample physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual support, your loved one can still have an excellent quality of life despite having Alzheimer’s. That’s why we will create an individualized care plan that evolves according to your loved one’s needs while still leaving enough room for an appropriate degree of independence.
The 5 A’s Of Alzheimer’s
- Amnesia (Memory Loss)
- Agnosia (Difficulty Recognizing Familiar People, Places, & Things)
- Aphasia (Mixing Up Words)
- Anomia (“Losing” Words)
- Apraxia (Loss Of Motor Control)
1. Amnesia – Loss Of Memory That Disrupts Daily Life
If your loved one is exhibiting an alarming degree of forgetfulness, this is a sign of Alzheimer’s. Amnesia causes short-term memory loss, which makes it difficult to retain new information, but it eventually affects long-term memory as the disease progresses. Although mild forgetfulness is a natural part of aging, if your loved one’s memory has significantly declined in the last few years, this could be an indication of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
2. Agnosia – Difficulty Recognizing Familiar People, Places, & Things
Agnosia is perhaps the most infamous and tragic symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, as it can cause people to forget who their friends, relatives, and even their own spouse and children are. If your loved one is struggling to recognize familiar people, often “wanders” and gets lost, or forgets how to use everyday objects (e.g. forgetting what a toothbrush is or how to use it), it’s important to begin memory care as soon as possible to slow the disease progression before it gets worse.
3. Aphasia – Trouble Communicating With Words When Speaking Or Writing
Another common symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty forming or understanding words. This can manifest itself in many ways, from substituting words that are similar in meaning (e.g. saying “car” when they mean “truck”) to stringing words together in a bizarre and grammatically incorrect way to being completely unable to speak at all. Aphasia can be very frustrating and isolating for Alzheimer’s sufferers, but language therapy, attentive listening, and other forms of support can make communication easier.
4. Anomia – Losing Words Or Having Trouble Recalling Words
Anomia is closely related to aphasia, and it refers to difficulty recalling words. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s, they might have trouble finding the right word in a conversation or forget common words entirely. For example, they might forget the words “husband” and “kitchen” and instead refer to them as “my friend” and “the food place.” As with aphasia, it is important to listen attentively and be extra patient with your loved one.
5. Apraxia – Difficulty Performing Common Tasks
Apraxia refers to the progressive loss of motor control, which can make it difficult or impossible to perform common tasks such as brushing teeth, combing hair, or getting dressed. This can be very frustrating and isolating for Alzheimer’s sufferers, but occupational therapy and other forms of support, such as assisted living, can greatly improve their quality of life.
Compassionate Alzheimer’s Care In Utah
If your loved one is struggling with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, assisted living can be extremely beneficial. At PeachTree Place Assisted Living Community, we offer a wide range of services, including an individually-tailored care plan, engaging group programming, and activities, and access to nurses who are specially trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Contact us today to learn more about our memory care services or to schedule a tour of our assisted living apartments.
