HEALTHY BODY · DECEMBER 2018
Top 10% in Nation - It Matters!
Bringing the highest level of rehabilitative care
available in the United States to our own communities.
REHABILITATION AND
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
A
lzheimer’s is a progressive
disease that causes problems
with memory, thinking,
and behavior. It’s the most
common type of dementia,
accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.
The majority of Alzheimer’s patients are
65 years of age or older, but it doesn’t
just affect older adults. According to the
Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 200,000
people in the United States who are
under the age of 65 also have early-onset
Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms usually develop slowly and
become more severe over time. The most
common early symptom of the disease
involves difficulty in remembering newly
learned information. As the disease
progresses, more severe symptoms
may present that include disorientation,
confusion about information, mood changes,
behavior changes, unfound suspicions about
known individuals, and even difficulty in
walking, speaking, or swallowing.
While there’s currently no known cure for
Alzheimer’s, treatments for symptoms are
available.
At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital,
our specially-trained, interdisciplinary team
works with Alzheimer’s patients and their
families to help them maintain their abilities
and independence for as long as possible.
This in turn can help to decrease caregiver
stress.
Depending upon the stage of the disease, we
create individualized treatment plans with
patients and family members, which can
include:
• Physical Therapy: Focuses on
improving balance, muscle strength and
mobility; fall prevention
• Speech-Language Pathology:
Focuses on cognitive and communication
skills; swallowing difficulties
• Occupational Therapy: Focuses on
daily living activities such as eating, bathing,
dressing, toileting
20 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
• Neuropsychology Counseling:
Helps patients and family members adjust to
emotional and physical changes
• Home Evaluations: Identifies
necessary modifications to provide a safe
home environment
• Family/Caregiver Education:
Teaches caregivers about disease process
and how to best help
• Community Resources: Provides
patients and caregivers with educational
resources, including respite care
For more information on Weslaco
Regional Rehabilitation Hospital’s
Alzheimer’s services, call 956-969-2222.
Juan Asuaje, MD
STRH.ERNESTHEALTH.COM WRRH.ERNESTHEALTH.COM
425 E Alton Gloor Blvd • Brownsville, TX 78526 906 S. James Street • Weslaco, TX 78596
956.554.6000
956.350.6150
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956.969.2222
956.969.2221
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