Koochiching Aging Options is encouraging members of the county to be proactive about memory health by taking advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging Nov. 13.
The event is part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative that the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America holds each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. More than 2,000 sites across the country will be participating.
Littlefork Medical Center in cooperation with Koochiching Aging Options will provide the memory screenings at 912 Main St., Littlefork, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call Koochiching Aging Options at 283-7030.
“We are very pleased to help facilitate this important service and are proud to collaborate with Littlefork Medical Center to bring it to greater Koochiching County,” said Douglas Skrief, executive director of Koochiching Aging Options.
For people in the International Falls and Ranier area, Decker’s Family Assisted Living and Dementia Care will be hosting screenings at Ranier Roost, 3443 Pine St., Ranier, from 10 to 6 and will also take appointments for later more convenient screening times. Call 286-5635 with questions.
Qualified healthcare professionals administer the screenings which consist of a series of questions and tasks and take five to ten minutes to complete. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores or who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam.
According to the AFA, some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory problems might result from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat one of these conditions.
AFA urges anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history or who wants to check their memory now and for future comparison to get screened. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and erratic mood swings.
Currently, as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising in line with the swell of aging baby boomers. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease doubles every five years beyond age 65.
For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a national nonprofit organization that unites more than 1,600 member organizations nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families.
