Making Sense of Memory Loss A guide to community resources for people with memory loss in Bay County Published by The Bay County Department on Aging and Golden Horizons Adult Day Care Center Bay County Revised 2017 Page 1 Making Sense of Memory Loss A guide to community resources for people with memory loss in Bay County Introduction page 3-5 Personal Emergency Response Systems 6 Legal Planning 7 Bay County Department on Aging 8-9 MI Choice Medicaid Waiver / PACE 10 Support Groups 11 Adult Day Care 12 Pharmacies that Deliver 13-14 Physicians that Make House Calls 15 In Home Care 16-17 Respite Care Facilities 18 Adult Foster Care 19 Skilled Nursing Facilities 20 Assisted Living 21-22 Dementia Care Homes 23 Hospice 24 Veterans Services 25-26 Other Community Services 27-30 Bay County 2017 Edition Page 2 An Introduction to Memory Loss According to the Michigan Dementia Coalition, 240,000 people in Michigan live with dementia. Our goal in compiling this resource guide is to assist these people who are dealing with some form of dementia, their family and friends, caregivers, as well as professionals in locating and using resources in the Bay County Area. Although people commonly use the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” interchangeably, these two terms do NOT have the same meaning. Dementia refers to a group of symptoms and is not a specific disease. Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms that affect mental cognitive tasks like memory and reasoning and can impact performance of activities of daily living and communication. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia accounting for 60-80% of cases. Alzheimer’s, like most forms of dementia is progressive meaning the symptoms begin gradually and worsen over time. Many people experience issues with memory loss. Although memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, experiencing memory loss does not necessarily mean the individual has dementia. If you or a loved one is experiencing issues with memory loss or changes in cognitive ability, do not ignore it. See a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause, as a treatable condition may be detected. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and different types of brain cell damage are associated with different types of dementia. There are many types of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia, mixed dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and Huntington’s disease. There is currently no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. There are treatments which help to slow the progression of the symptoms. There are currently five medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms: Aricept, Razadyne, Namenda, Exelon, and Namzaric. A single test does not exist to determine if Bay County 2017 Edition Page 3 someone has dementia. Symptoms of different types of dementia often overlap so doctors may not be able to diagnose a specific type. Normal Aging Dementia Symptoms Making a bad decision once in Poor judgment and decision making awhile Missing a monthly payment Inability to manage a budget Forgetting what day it is and Losing track of the date or the season remember later Losing things from time to time Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them Sometimes forgetting what word Difficulty have a conversation to use Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s: 1. Memory loss 2. Problems with planning or problem solving 3. Difficult performing familiar tasks 4. Disorientation to time and place 5. Difficulty with spatial relationships and visual images 6. New problems with language or writing 7. Misplacing things 8. Decreased or poor judgement 9. Loss of initiative 10. Changes in personality Information taken from Alzheimer’s Association, 2017. Bay County 2017 Edition Page 4 Staggering Statistics ✓ 5.5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s. 5.3 million are age 65+. ✓ There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million. ✓ 2/3 of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women. ✓ 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s. 1/3 of people over the age of 85 have Alzheimer’s. ✓ Every 66 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number climbs to every 33 seconds. ✓ Alzheimer’s disease is the 5th leading cause of disability and poor health in the United States. ✓ Alzheimer’s is the 5th leading cause of death for Americans aged 65+ and the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. ✓ 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. ✓ Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased by 89% since 2000 to 2014. ✓ 40% of all caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients have symptoms of depression. ✓ 35% of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia report that their health has gotten worse due to care responsibilities, compared to 19% of caregivers for older people without dementia. ✓ In 2016, 15.9 million caregivers provided an estimated 18.2 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $230 billion. ✓ Alzheimer’s is the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed down. ✓ In 2017, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $259 billion. All statistics taken from Alzheimer’s Association, 2017. Bay County 2017 Edition Page 5 Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Every second counts when you experience a fall, medical issue, or other emergencies. Your recovery and independence can be at risk if you are alone and medical care is delayed. PERS are commonly referred to as “Lifeline” units and they summon help with a simple push of a button. These medical alert systems are worn at all times by the individual and can be purchased in either a pendant (necklace), wrist band (watch) design, belt clip, or be placed in a pocket. Almost all systems are waterproof. Most medical alert systems have a one-time installation fee with an ongoing monthly rental fee thereafter. Some hospitals and social service agencies will pay for low income recipients. These units guarantee you the peace of mind that prompt and caring assistance will be provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some units may offer additional add on features including: fall detection, medication dispensers, bed mats, wander guards, or wall buttons. Individual businesses should be contacted to inquire about their unit’s specifics and/or add on features. Alert One Sales- 1(866)627-7049 -Or- Order Toll Free (888) 536-6359 Guardian Medical Monitoring (888) 349-2400 Life Station Order Toll Free 1(800) 554-4600 Medical Alert 1 (800) 800-2537 Mid-Michigan Home Care 503 N. Euclid Ave., Bay City MI 48706 (989) 891-9058 Mobile Help Sales 1(800) 992 0616 Philips Lifeline from McLaren Home Care Group (866) 402-2345 Bay County 2017 Edition Page 6 Legal Planning The following is a list of attorneys in the area that specialize in elder care law. They can help and explain issues related to Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Finances, Guardianships, Conservatorships, Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning. Chalgian and Tripp Law Offices Seward Tally & Piggot P.C. 4800 Fashion Square Blvd 1009 Washington Ave Suite 455 Bay City, MI 48708 Saginaw, MI 48604 (989) 894-6551 (989) 272-7779 http://www.sewardtallypiggott.com/ https://mielderlaw.com/ Lambert, Leser, Attorneys at Law Norman Harrison 916 Washington Ave 805 S Michigan Suite 309 Saginaw, MI 48604 Bay City, MI 48708 (989) 790-7177 (989) 893-3518 http://lambertleser.com/ Gower Plc. 514 E Midland St Frost and Danielak Attorneys Bay City, MI 48706 319 Center Ave (989) 894-0100 Suite 405 http://www.gowerlaw.com/ Bay City, MI 48708 (989)-893-3111 Carol Thomas 5191 Hampton Pl. Saginaw, MI 48604 Lakeshore Legal Aid (989)793-2300 1(866) 552- 2889 www.attorneycarolthomas.com State Hotline - (888) 783-8190 Offers free legal help to seniors age 60 and Beggs Law Firm over. Appointments are held at Bay County Saturday Hours available Division on Aging once a month. Assistance 800 Washington Avenue includes: Guardianships and Suite 100 Conservatorships; Power of Attorney for Bay City, MI 48708 health Care documents; Wills; Deeds; Social (989) 893-3221 Security, Medicare, Medicaid, & SSI issues; https://beggslawplc.com/ Housing and Landlord/ Tenant matters; Consumer fraud and scams; as well as Robert J. Dunn, P.C. Debtor / Creditor problems. Call toll free 1020 N Johnson St. (866) 552-2889 or (989) 673-5651 for more Bay City, MI 48708 information or to schedule an appointment. (989) 894-1110 http://www.baycityattorneys.com/ Bay County 2017 Edition Page 7 Bay County Department on Aging 515 Center Avenue Suite 202, Bay City, Michigan 48708 (989) 895-4100 –Or- toll-free (877) 229-9960 Website: http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Aging/ The Bay County Department on Aging is dedicated to providing continued opportunities for the community's older adults by maintaining independence, offering social opportunities, and enhancing their lives through quality services in a cost-effective manner. Programs and services include: Abuse in Later Life Program: This program is dedicated to helping older people who become victims of abuse. Through a network of community partners called the Adult Services Collaborative, victims are assisted with safety and independence from their abusers. If you suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation, call Michigan’s statewide hotline at 1-855-444-3911. Caregiver Support and Education Program: This program is designed to help family members who are struggling to care for their loved ones who are ill or have disabilities.