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Alzheimer's Diease Awareness Month — Continued |
- 5. Poor or decreased judgment
- No one has perfect judgment all of the time. Those with Alzheimer's may dress without regard to the weather, wearing several shirts or blouses on a warm day or very little clothing in cold weather. Individuals with dementia often show poor judgment about money, giving away large amounts of money to telemarketers or paying for home repairs or products they don't need.
- 6. Problems with abstract thinking.
- Balancing a checkbook may be hard when the task is more complicated than usual. Someone with Alzheimer's Disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.
- 7. Misplacing things.
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Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or key. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
- 8. Changes in mood or behavior.
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Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can show rapid mood swings-from calm to tears to anger-for no apparent reason.
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- 9. Changes in personality.
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People's personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change a lot, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on family.
- 10. Loss of initiative.
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It's normal to tire of housework, business activities, or social obligations at times. The person with Alzheimer's Disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or not wanting to do usual activities.
If you recognize any warning signs in yourself or a loved one, the Alzheimer's disease or other disorders causing dementia is an important step in getting appropriate treatment, care, and support services.
What the physician needs to know:
- A list of symptoms, when they began, and how frequently they occur-documented in the form of a journal or the use of care logs.
- A list of past and current medical problems.
- A list of all current medications, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements.
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An MHS Provider can help determine when further evaluation by a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders is appropriate.
Reality: At this time, there is no medical treatment to cure or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Four FDA-approved drugs - tacrine (Cognex®), donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), and galantamine (Reminyl®) - may temporarily improve or stabilize memory and thinking skills in some individuals.
"...high cholesterol and high blood pressure-factors that cause strokes and heart disease-may also increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's."
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Mecosta Health Services... Canadian Lakes Construction Update |
As you can see from the photo…the building project is well underway. The building located at 8354 100th Avenue Canadian Lakes directly across the water channel from Antler's
Restaurant, is planned for completion in the spring of 2004.
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Currently DeFever Construction is working on interior walls in the upper level, the floor to be occupied by Mecosta Health Services. The lower level of the building is available for lease to medical businesses. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about lease options, contact Sam Daugherty, MCGH CEO.
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MCGH Foundation Festival of Trees |
The first annual MCGH Foundation
Festival of Trees Reception will be held Wed., Nov. 19 at Gary Trimarco Automotive, 101 Maple Street in Big Rapids. Artificial trees, ranging from 3 to 12 ft tall, are being decorated by local artists, crafters, and businesses to be donated
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for sale at auction to support the mission of Mecosta County General Hospital. Tickets to the auction/reception are $20 each, available from MCGH Foundation Board members, MCGH trustees, and at Patterson's Flowers in Big Rapids and Canadian
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Lakes. The community is invited to view the decorated trees from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21, from Noon to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 22, and 1-4 p.m. Nov. 23, free of charge. Call the MCGH Public Relations office at (231) 592-4409 for more info.
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