Are you…

• An adult child of aging parents and have questions?
• In need of benefits to help with living expenses?
• In need of insurance?
• Able to ask the right questions about your Medicare/Medicaid plan?
• Experiencing an emergency?
• Feeling alone and need someone to talk to?
• Unsure of your local programs or resources?
• Finding it difficult to manage your home and need help finding assistance?

Our social worker is available to assist you through these situations and more. Many times we just need someone to listen and provide options. Our approach is to empower you. We would like to provide options for each situation and assist you as much as you need to find a resolution.

Please feel free to reach out for a helping hand by calling 317-398-0127 and ask to speak to our social worker. We are available from 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday-Friday.

From the Horizon:

How much do you know about dementia? What is dementia?  Would you recognize the signs or would you pass the symptoms off as signs of normal aging? Let’s look at what dementia is, then let’s discuss the difference between some of the typical signs of aging and signs of a more serious issue.

First, the word “dementia” encompasses many diseases that affect memory and functioning. The more common diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, and frontotemporal dementia. Usually these begin after age 65, but can have an earlier onset. Dementia is defined by Oxford Language as “a condition characterized by progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning, especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking, and often with personality change, resulting from organic disease of the brain.” But what does dementia look like?

Nearly everyone starts experiencing some memory loss with age. If you are witnessing a loved one struggle, always consult with a doctor, of course. If you see any of the following signs, make sure to point them out to the doctor. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of ten signs for early detection if you would like a more extensive description. Let’s talk about a few of the more common symptoms and the difference between someone experiencing dementia and someone who is showing typical signs of aging.

• Disruptions in daily life due to memory loss. Everyone occasionally forgets a name or how to make a favorite recipe. Dementia is more disruptive – the inability to remember the name of a close loved one or being unable to recall the recipe even after prompting.
• Difficulty with familiar tasks. Someone may ask for help with using an electronic device that they have used before and that can be typical. Someone with dementia may begin to struggle with tying their shoes or brushing their teeth.
• Poor judgement. Everyone falls for a scam at times or gives money to someone even when they know it will not be put to good use. A person with dementia may be easily persuaded to give away large sums of money or make choices that seem very out of character.

If you would like to know more about dementia, feel free to contact us at Shelby Senior Services. Ask about our Dementia Friends information sessions. Reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association. Talk to your doctor. Please do not feel that you are alone if you or someone you love is struggling with possible dementia. There is help available from many different sources for the person with dementia and those who love them. Just reach out to get started.