I Was Diagnosed With Early Stage Alzheimer’s. Now What?

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(Newswire.net — October 11, 2020) — Receiving an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis can be a life-changing moment and one that may come with a whirlwind of emotions. However, it is also one that is accompanied by great urgency and a need for immediate action. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that worsens over time and receiving treatment as soon as possible after a diagnosis can reduce the impact that the symptoms have on you over time. But what exactly should you be pursuing once you receive news that you have Alzheimer’s? If you’ve recently received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, here are some of the next steps you’ll need to take.

Ask your doctor what your diagnosis means for you.

Understanding your diagnosis and the implications of it are important to helping you take the first steps in the treatment process. Make sure to do some Alzheimer’s research to learn more about how this disease will affect your body and mind such as issues with memory, behavioral changes, and problems with bodily function. Ask your doctor how it may progress over time and what the outlook is for your specific situation. Conducting basic research and learning more about the disease can arm you with the knowledge you need to better navigate it moving forward.

Create a plan for the future.

Find ways to make life easier for yourself.

Although you’ll receive treatment from your doctor, there are things that you can do at home that may make life easier for you over time. Some of these management recommendations include:

  • Developing a regular schedule so that you’re prepared for what you’ll be doing each day
  • Limiting the number of choices that you make per day (meal choices, outfits, etc.)
  • Finding games or puzzles that help you maintain brain function
  • Eliminating stress and making sure that you are taking proper care of yourself physically (which will involve both regular exercises as well as a healthy diet)
  • Making sure that your home is safe to navigate as you find yourself dealing with the physical symptoms of your disease

The better equipped you are for the changes you’ll experience in the future, the less impactful the transition will be as you experience the disease over time.

Hearing that you have early-stage Alzheimer’s can be a difficult reality to cope with, but it’s one that needs to be processed nonetheless. If you’ve found yourself with this diagnosis, use the guide above to learn more about what the next steps will be for you and what you can expect to undergo as you navigate the symptoms of this disease.