MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Every 67 seconds someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s. In fact, more than five million are now living with the disease. The need is so great for patients in the Mid-South that Baptist Memorial Healthcare recently opened its memory care center. The Baptist Memory Care Center provides free screenings and assessments for those dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s and directs them to resources already available in the community. The Alzheimer’s Association say the symptoms of Alzheimer’s include forgetfulness and memory loss, lack of concentration and confusion, losing things or putting things in unusual places, difficulty doing familiar tasks and language and speaking problems. Mental health experts say loved ones may also show poor judgment, personality changes or sudden mood swings and say the sooner you can get them help the better for everyone involved. “The memory loss is more than a memory that is not there. It’s not I forgot my keys it’s that I don’t realize I have keys. The connection is missing and close family will notice that it’s different from normal,” said Susan Crowson with the Baptist Memory Care Center. Crowson say there are medications and memory tools that are more effective during the early stages of Alzheimer’s. For more information on the Baptist Memory Care Center click here.
