November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska encourages people to learn more.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is coming up in November, and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska (ARA)is encouraging people to learn about the condition.

ARA says that Alzheimer’s hits people in their later years and is not a normal part of aging.

According to Joan Adams, Education Specialist at ARA, Alzheimer’s is a misunderstood condition and people are afraid of it. She said learning more about Alzheimer’s can prompt people to participate in treatment for themselves and their loved ones.

If anyone experiences any of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as loss of memory, judgment and reasoning to name a few, Adams anrourages them to make a visit to the doctor.

“We need more people that are more aware of what’s going on,” Adams said. “We need young people to know because they’re going to be taking care of their parents and their grandparents, and so we need more resources and more people to support not only the people with dementia, but their care partners as well.”

On October 1st, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or AFA, extended the hours of their national hotline. According to a press release, AFA took this action in order to be able to help more people impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia-related illnesses.

The hotline now operates from 5 a.m to 5 p.m Alaska time seven days a week, and is meant to be an outlet for those who have a crisis or need someone to talk to.

For more information about Alzheimer’s or to receive help with a crisis, the hotline number is 866-232-8484.

You can also email Joan Adams locally at jadams@alzalaska.org.

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