We are learning more about brain health and memory every day. Knowing what to expect and how to manage symptoms can help you find a way forward, whether you have been diagnosed with a memory disorder or you are a caregiver. 

Contact us at 321.434.7612 for a free memory screening

A roadmap of your brain

You may hear your doctors talking about the effects of aging and memory loss on different parts of your brain. Knowing the regions of your brain and their function can help your understanding of how memory disorders may impact your movement, language and major systems.

Frontal lobe: Personality characteristics, movement

Parietal lobe: Identification of objects, helps interpret pain and touch throughout the body

Occipital lobe: Vision

Temporal lobe: Short-term memory, speech

Brain stem: Movement of the eyes and mouth, cardiac and respiratory functions, consciousness, sensory messages (i.e. hot, cold, loud), involuntary muscle movements, such as sneezing, coughing and swallowing 

Cerebellum: Voluntary muscle movements, posture and balance

The right and left sides of your brain also play an important role in your language, logic, creativity and whether or not you are right-hand dominant or left-hand dominant.

What’s next? A guide for the caregiver

We know it feels overwhelming when your loved one is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. You may feel scared, sad, angry or in denial. We can help.

Support is here. Visit the Center for Family Caregivers or call 321.434.7625

Get your loved one’s personal documents, bills and paperwork in order

• Create a will or trust and an advance medical directive, and designate a power of attorney, health care surrogate while your loved one is able to make their wishes known
• Locate important documents and store them in a safe place. This could include insurance papers, birth and marriage certificates, service discharge documents and titles to the house or car
• Determine how the finances should be handled, including household bills, bank accounts and investment accounts

Turn to professionals for more information

Friends and family may offer well-meaning advice, but you should reach out to the experts for more information. This could include:

• Your family member’s doctors
• Professionals at the Memory Care Clinic
• Healthcare professionals at the Aging Services Clinic
• Elder law attorneys

Involve the whole family early and often

Dementia and Alzheimer’s affect everyone in the family. Let family members know what’s going on and what plans are being made so they can help and support you and your loved one.

Plan for long-term care

People with Alzheimer’s disease or other severe forms of dementia will likely need full-time skilled care down the road. Know your options before the burden on you becomes too great.

Learn more about Health First’s home care programs

Take care of yourself

Caregiving can be rewarding, but also demanding and stressful. Your physical and emotional wellness is just as important as the person you are caring for. 

• Get enough rest
• Exercise
• Schedule regular check ups with your own doctor
• Find respite care so you can run errands or take some time to yourself
• Join a support group of people who understand

Caregiver burnout — know the signs

You, the caregiver, are expected and entitled to feel a wide range of emotions as you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. These are often unpredictable disorders that can stress and burden even the most loving, devoted caregiver.

 Taking care of yourself is crucial for your own wellness and for your ability to provide care to your loved ones. Recognize the signs of caregiver stress and remember that help is available. 

• Physical symptoms of stress such as fatigue, digestive trouble, sleep issues and persistent pain
• Feelings of depression, anger, grief and a sense of being overwhelmed
• Changes in your personal relationships, including your relationship with the person who has the memory disorder.
• Feeling isolated and disconnected from other family members or friends that you feel don’t understand your experiences
• Loss of income from missed work
• Decreased sexual intimacy
• Loss of time to yourself to enjoy your hobbies

There is help available. Here are a few ways to manage your stress and relieve some of the burden of caregiving:

• Recognize what you are and are not able to do, both physically and emotionally
• Be realistic about your loved one’s changing abilities
• Have a sense of humor whenever possible
• Understand that your relationship with your loved one will change
• Call us at 321.434.7612 to find out what services are available to you
• Ask for and accept help from family and friends
• Remember that your needs are important
• Contact the Center for Family Caregivers at 321.434.7625 to find support

Recognizing the signs of elder abuse

We should feel comfort and trust when placing our beloved family members in the care of someone else. But when elder abuse occurs, it can be difficult or even impossible for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s to tell someone they need help.

Elder abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or financial. Know the warning signs and alert the authorities if you suspect abuse.

• Bruises, welts, broken bones or injuries that are repetitive and not adequately explained by a caregiver or the person with a memory disorder
• Money missing from accounts or missing items of value, such as jewelry, without explanation
• Unusual banking activity such as switching accounts or large withdrawals
• New behaviors such as disorientation, withdrawal, trembling, clinging or lack of eye contact
• Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, ambivalence, passivity, shame or confusion
• Signs of restraints, such as bruises or welts, and signs of malnourishment, including sudden weight loss
• Time lags between injuries and medical treatment, or a history of emergency room visits or "doctor shopping"
• Changes in your loved one’s social environment, including recent acquaintances or care providers isolating them from close friends and family
• Caregiver indifference or anger toward the person with the memory disorder

If you suspect elder abuse:

• Call the authorities
• Contact us at 321.434.7612 for help and support
• Call the Elder Abuse Hotline is 1-800-96-ABUSE, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Additional resources

Senior Wellness Resources
Hospice of Health First
Florida Silver Alert
Alzheimer’s Association
Dementia Society of America
Dana Foundation