Alzheimer’s awareness

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It’s more than forgetting where you put your keys or the name of someone you used to work with. Alzheimer’s Disease does offer up signs those closest to you shouldn’t ignore. Because early intervention can make a difference.

Bruna Guazzelli is a fiercely proud Nonna. Grandmother to daughter Edy’s 4 growing girls. Just a few months shy of her 85th birthday, Bruna still lives independently: “My apartment I take care of myself. I take care of the little things around the house the best I can. Cook a little bit for me.

Independent but with a major support system to help with her daily care. Life changed for Bruna four years ago. A little memory trouble escalated to disorientation when driving. She confided in Edy: “She felt that there were changes happening and she didn’t know what they were and so she needed help.”

Testing confirmed bruna has Alzheimer’s Disease. Fortunately, she’s managing well. Edy credits the early diagnosis: “Medication was given to her right away and I am confident that it slowed down the process. We were able to seek the proper care for her. We were able to get the supports in place to assist her so that she is still living independently.”

Mary Burnett is head of the Alzheimer Society. She also advocates seeking medical help as soon as you suspect a problem: “One of the things people forget is there’s a lot of quality of life long after diagnosis and Bruna’s a wonderful example of that. I think that if you’re worried about memory loss and you go and see your doctor and you get a diagnosis early on, it can help greatly with the progression of the disease. But every person is different.”