Alzheimer’s and dementia can be intimidating diseases to struggle with, and for many people, it’s often caught too late. Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Speech Therapist Becca Gussiaas, is hoping to change that with a new service she is offering: Free memory screenings for people concerned about Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Early detection for Alzheimer’s and dementia is key.
Although dementia and Alzheimer’s share similar symptoms, dementia is not a specific disease, but a broad term describing a wide range of mental process disorders, such as memory loss, personality changes and impaired reasoning. Alzheimer’s is a specific type of progressive dementia with no known cure. According to Alz.org, Alzheimer’s is the number one cause of dementia in adults, with 1 in 9 adults over 65 suffering from it.
Other signs of dementia include:
* language impairment & struggling to find the right words
* struggling to focus
* changes in mood or shifts in personality
* loss of interest in hobbies and activities
* confusion or judgment lapses
* repetition in conversation or in daily tasks
Early detection means patients and families can create strategies and routine before significant memory loss occurs. Developing strategies for memory loss helps individuals maintain independence as long as possible, Gussiaas said. Such strategies include setting alarms, creating calendars and posting reminders.
“It’s a misconception that nothing can be done for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, we can provide a lot of memory strategies to help them maintain independence longer,” Gussiaas said.
For the memory screening, Gussiaas identifies weaknesses in short-term memory and long-term memory in the patient, once the screening process is complete, Gussiaas then has an accurate picture of what recommendations should be made.
“These early memory strategies can offer hope to patients and their families, and that’s what I want to do: provide hope,” Gussiaas said.
Children and nursing home staff play an important role in early detection, Gussiaas said. Changes to watch for are: increased forgetfulness, memory loss, or speech changes.
Gussiaas offers pediatric screenings for parents concerned about speech impediments, (stuttering or lisps) language delay, or overall language skills.
JRMC Rehabilitation Manager Tracy Anderson says that screenings offer peace of mind to concerned parents.
“For those parents who are scared that their kid’s language skills are not developing, we can do a free screening and help guide those parents. We can give them recommendations,” Anderson said.
Patients or parents interested in a free screening can contact JRMC Rehab at (701) 952-4800.
Regardless of what Gussiaas is treating, she stays focused on one thing- patient success.
“I am here to help the patient succeed. Their success is my success,” Gussiaas said.
Rebecca Gussiaas has been a Speech- Language Pathologist at JRMC Rehab since 2015. For a full list of all of her services, visit here. To schedule an appointment, call (701) 952-4800.