Caregiver Support

Our PLACE Caregiver Support Group

2nd Friday of each month, 9a - 11a at the Tellico Village Library, 300 Irene Lane, Loudon, TN

This support group is affiliated with Alzheimer’s TN., Inc., and is dedicated to providing education featuring guest speakers, fellowship, and support for those giving care to an elderly loved one. Refreshments are provided.  

*To be added to the Caregiver Support Group contact list, please email director@ourplacetn.org.

Chota Community Health - Madisonville

3rd Thursday of each month, 1p - 2p at Chota Community Health Services, 4798 New Hwy 68, Madisonville, TN

Do We Need to Get Tested NOW?

By Laurie Fox for Our PLACE

The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes June as Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, highlighting many ways to promote brain health. More than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Education remains our best defense.

Do you have concerns about your own brain health or that of a loved one? What should your next steps be?

Our PLACE Memory Day Center recently began a community conversation exploring answers to common questions about brain health. We partnered with Dr. John Kreise, a geriatrician with Senior Care Partners of East Tennessee who is passionate about caring for older adults. He led the first of three “Ask the Expert” educational programs. Our first topic asked, “When should I see a doctor about memory loss?” The room was filled with eager participants hoping to address their concerns and learn more.

Dr. Kreise explained that “time is brain” when it comes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. In other words, people should not delay testing if they have concerns. Early diagnosis offers many benefits for individuals and their loved ones. Physicians use a variety of screening assessments and medical tests to help determine a diagnosis.

Dr. Kriese addressed recognizing the difference between normal age-related changes and the possible signs of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association provides a helpful side-by-side comparison:

       Signs of Alzheimer's and Dementia       Typical Age-Related Changes              
Poor judgement and decision-making Making a bad decision occasionally                 
Inability to manage a budget Missing a monthly payment                              
Losing track of dates and seasons Forgetting the day & remembering it later     
          Difficulty carrying on a conversation Occasionally forgetting a word                          
          Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps Losing things from time to time                        

We also learned that some cognitive changes may not be caused by neurodegenerative diseases at all. Conditions such as infections or metabolic deficiencies can sometimes create symptoms that resemble dementia. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, these conditions are often reversible. This is another important reason to seek screening sooner rather than later.

This past month, my greatest “Moments of Joy” came from listening to the staff at Our PLACE and our clinical partners at Senior Care Partners of East Tennessee and Chota Community Health Services share the personal reasons behind their commitment to caring for those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. For many, the mission is deeply personal because they have experienced the impact of these diseases within their own families. As Dr. John Kreise reminded us, those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are often unable to advocate for themselves, so we must advocate for them.

We hope to see you at our next two “Ask the Expert” educational programs in July and October, where you will have direct access to experts in brain health, such as Dr. Kreise.  We will further explore diagnosis, rapidly evolving treatments, legal considerations, and local community resources.  

Our PLACE, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, encourages anyone with questions to reach out to us at director@ourplacetn.org or (865) 657-7222 to schedule a 30-minute confidential appointment.  Together we are better!