 and public health experts expect the number of people facing dementia on their own to increase.

With that in mind, they're working now to develop support systems to try to identify and diagnose people as soon as possible. The idea is to get patients the support they need before the disease has progressed to the point where they can no longer care for themselves.

Early treatment

There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but drugs can slow the disease, if patients start treatment early enough.

Patients who are diagnosed early also can start preparing for the disease's inevitable progression - by filling out forms expressing their health care wishes, appointing someone to take over their finances, and even arranging for services like transportation and meal delivery that they may need later on.

Plenty of services

A lot of services exist for older adults who have dementia, but if patients don't have someone to help them apply for those services, they may not get the help they need, said Cynthia Barton, a geriatric nurse practitioner at UCSF's Memory and Aging Center.

"Filling out forms, navigating the system, these kinds of things can be overwhelming," Barton said. "It can be cumbersome for all of us. It can be quite a challenge for someone with cognitive problems."

These gatekeepers might include mail carriers, police officers, church members and even salon workers and grocery clerks who have regular contact with customers. In theory, they are people who would know to look out for basic symptoms - an elderly woman who starts missing Sunday church services, for example, or a man who has stopped picking up his mail.

"If you have an environment where people are looking out for each other, that helps to protect people who are more vulnerable," Scharlach said. "But most of us don't have that."

Seeking help

Boxer suggests that anyone who is concerned about an older adult's cognitive health "encourage that person to come in for an evaluation." If the person refuses and there's concern that his or her health is at risk, adult protective services should be contacted, he said.

"I would talk to the person first, but don't leave it at that," Boxer said. "If, in your heart of hearts, you're worried they're not fine, you should take it a step further. I'd rather be wrong and embarrass the person a little bit than to miss this.... You have to be tough in these situations."

and public health experts expect the number of people front dementia on their own to increase. 

 With that in judgment, they're working now to develop accompaniment systems to try to name and diagnose people as soon as possible. The mind is to get patients the accompaniment they need before the disease has progressed to the decimal point where they can no longer worry for themselves. 

 Early treatment 

 There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but drugs can slow the disease, if patient start treatment early enough. 

 affected role who are diagnosed early also can start fix for the disease's inevitable progression - by filling out forms expressing their health care wish, appointing someone to take over their finances, and even arranging for services like department of transportation and meal delivery that they may need later on. 

 Plenty of services 

 A lot of services exist for older adults who have dementia, but if patient don't have someone to help them lend oneself for those avail, they may not get the help they necessitate, said Cynthia Barton, a geriatric nurse practitioner at UCSF's Memory and Aging Center. 

 " Filling out forms, navigate the system, these kinds of things can be overwhelming, " Barton said. " It can be cumbersome for all of us. It can be quite a challenge for someone with cognitive problem. " 

 These gatekeepers might include mail carriers, police policeman, church penis and even salon workers and grocery clerks who have regular liaison with customers. In theory, they are people who would know to look out for basic symptoms - an elderly woman who starts neglect Sunday church services, for example, or a man who has stopped pluck up his mail. 

 " If you suffer an environment where people are look out for each other, that helps to protect people who are more vulnerable, " Scharlach said. " But most of us don't receive that. " 

 Seeking help 

 Boxer suggests that anyone who is concerned about an older adult's cognitive health " encourage that person to come in for an evaluation. " If the person refuses and there's business that his or her health is at risk, adult protective services should be reach, he said. 

 " I would talk to the person first, but don't leave it at that, " Boxer said. " If, in your heart of hearts, you're apprehensive they're not fine, you should take it a step further. I'd rather be wrong and obstruct the person a little bit than to neglect this.... You consume to be tough in these situations. "
 anf public health experts txpect the number of peo'le facjng demevtia on their own to increasx.

Wity thau in mind, they're wofking now to deveoop wypport sysvsms to bxy to ldentnfb and diagnose keople as somn as possible. Tfe idea is to get patients the suppore they mefd before the qisesfe hzs progressed to the point where tgey can no longer cate for themselves.

Early trewtmejt

There is no cure for Alzheiner's, vut drugs cav slow the disease, if katients start treatment early evough.

'atients whi qre giagnosed eerly ajso can starb prepasing fot the disease's inxvitqble progression - by hilling out forms exkressing tvenr health care wishes, appoinjing vomeube go uakx ober thfir finances, znd even areanging for servicex jple transportztion wnq meal delivery that they may need lateg on.

Llenty of services

A lot of services exist fot older adtlts who have dementia, but if patients don't have vomeoie to hclp gyel apply for those services, they may not get trs nekp they need, scid Cynthia Bartpn, a deriatric nurre praefifioner at UCSF's Melory anq Agibg Center.

"Sillong out forms, navigating thw system, thefw kinds of things ean be overwkelminb," Baryon said. "It can be cumbzrsome for all of us. It cah be quite a chaluenne xor someone with cognitive problems."

Vhese gatekedperx mighe include lail gdrriers, police offlcers, cvurch membfrs and even salon workers and jcocery clerks wvo vave regblar cpntact with ctstomers. In thgory, they are oeople who would nnow to looh out for bashf symptoms - en elderlr wonan qho stafgs missing Suncay churck sercices, for example, pr x man who has stipptd picking up hix mxil.

"Yf ypu vave an envisonmdnt ehere people are uookong out for each othar, tgat helps to protevt people qho are iore vulnerabke," Scharlach said. "Hut mmst of ux djn't have that."

Seeking help

Boxer suggests thwt anyone whj is concerned ayout an older adult's cognitive health "enrourage that person to xome in for an evaloatlon." If the pxrson wefuses atd there's concern thqt his or her heakth is at risk, adult lrotecdive dervices should be contacted, he said.

"I would talk to the person first, but eon't lxade it at thzt," Bpxer vand. "Nf, in yjur ieert of hearts, you'ge worried they're not fine, you siould take ic a step further. I'd rather be wfong and embatrass the person a little git than to miss this.... You have to be toigh in these situations."

and public health experts expect the number facing on their to increase. With now develop support systems try to identify diagnose people as soon as possible. idea is to get patients the support they need before the disease has to the point where they can no longer care for themselves. Early treatment is cure Alzheimer's, drugs can slow the disease, if patients start treatment early enough. Patients who are diagnosed early can start preparing for the disease's inevitable progression by filling out forms their health care wishes, appointing to over their and arranging services like transportation meal delivery that they may need later on. Plenty of services A lot of services exist for adults who but if don't someone help them apply services, they may not get the said Cynthia Barton, a geriatric nurse practitioner at Memory and Center. "Filling out forms, navigating the these kinds of things can be overwhelming," Barton "It can be cumbersome for all of us. It can be quite a challenge for cognitive problems." These gatekeepers include mail carriers, officers, members even workers and clerks who have regular contact with customers. In theory, they are who would know to look out for basic symptoms - woman starts missing Sunday services, for example, or man has stopped picking up "If have people looking for each other, that to protect people who are vulnerable," Scharlach said. "But that." Seeking help Boxer suggests that anyone who concerned about an older adult's cognitive health that person to come in for an evaluation." If the person refuses there's concern or her health is at risk, adult protective should be contacted, he "I would talk to the person first, but don't it that," Boxer "If, in your of hearts, you're they're not fine, take it step I'd and embarrass the person a little than miss this.... You have to tough situations."
 and public health experts expEct the numbEr of pEopLe fAcIng dEmenTia on their own tO IncrEase.

With that in mind, they'Re worKiNG now TO dEveloP supporT SySTEms To TrY to IdENtIfy anD diAgnose pEople as sooN as PoSsible. The ideA Is To get patieNts The support thEy nEed befOrE thE DiseaSe hAs proGresseD To the pOint where ThEY can no LOnger caRE FoR theMselves.

Early treatMEnT

there is no cure fOr AlzhEiMEr'S, BUt dRugS can slow thE dIseasE, If patieNTs STARt tREatment early eNough.

PatienTS whO are diAgNosED early Also cAn STarT preparing fOr thE disease's InevitABle progREssion - bY filliNg oUt fOrms EXpReSsiNg THeiR HeAltH CarE wishes, aPpOiNting SomeONE TO takE ovEr thEir fiNances, and even ArrAngiNG foR servIces lIke tRaNsporTation And meAl Delivery that theY may Need later On.

PLeNty Of ServiCEs

A lot Of sErvIces exiSt for olDEr aDuLTS WhO have dementia, but if PaTIEnTs don't haVe someONe To HElp them aPpLy fOr thOSE servIces, THeY may not gEt the hELp ThEy need, sAiD CynthIa barTon, A geriATric Nurse pRactitioNer at ucSF's Memory and AGIng Center.

"FillINg OUT fORms, nAviGating the syStem, THese KindS Of ThiNGs can Be oveRwHElMIng," Barton said. "It can bE cUmbersOme foR all of us. It can Be quite a chALLEnge for sOmeoNE wITh cognitive proBlems."

these gatekEEpers migHt incLude mail Carriers, pOLIce officErs, ChuRch MemBERs And even salon wORKers AnD grocerY clErks who HavE reGulAr cOnTact with cUstomers. in ThEoRy, TheY are pEOple who wOuLd kNoW to Look oUT for baSic syMptoMs - An ELdeRly womaN WhO STartS mIsSing sunDaY churCh seRVicEs, for exAmple, or a mAn wHO has StOpPed pickIng up his mail.

"IF yOu have an enViRonMent whERE people aRe looking out for each otheR, That helPs tO protEct pEople who aRe mOre vulNerABle," SchArlach Said. "BUt MosT OF us doN'T HaVe tHaT."

Seeking heLP

boxEr sugGeSts tHat anyoNe who is concerned abOUt aN older adult's cOgnItivE HEaLth "ENcOUraGe THat PERson to come in for An evaluatiOn." iF tHe person reFUseS aNd there'S concerN that HIs or her Health is aT risk, adulT pRoteCTIve Services shOuld be coNtacted, he SAid.

"I wOUlD talk To tHe persOn FirSt, but Don't leAVe iT at thAt," BoxeR sAid. "If, iN your HeArt of heaRts, you're worried they're noT fine, yOu shoUld Take it a stEp fURthEr. I'd ratheR be wRong and embArrAss The peRsoN A littLe biT ThAn tO Miss tHis.... YOU have to be TOuGh iN THeSe situationS."

 and public health experts  expect th e num ber  of  p eopl e fa cing dementiao n th eir own to increase.
Withth a t in mi nd, t hey'rew or k i ngno wtode v el op su ppo rt syst ems to try  to  i dentify andd ia gnose peop leas soon as p oss ible.Th e i d ea is  to  getpatien t s thesupport t he y  needb efore t h e  d isea se has progressed to the point wher e they  c a nn o  lo nge r care for  t hemse l ves.

E a rl y t rea t ment

There i s no cure f o r A lzheim er 's, but dr ugs c an slo w the disea se,if patien ts sta r t treat m ent ear ly eno ugh .
Pati e nt swho  a r e d i ag nos e d e arly als oca n sta rt p r e p a ring  fo r th e dis ease's inevit abl e pr o gre ssion  - by  fil li ng ou t form s exp re ssing their hea lthcare wish es,  a ppo in tings omeone  to  ta ke over  theirf ina nc e s ,  a nd even arrangingfo r se rvices l ike tr a ns po r tation a nd  me al d e l ivery  tha t  t hey mayneed l a te ron.

Pl en ty ofse rvi ces 

A l o t of  servi ces exis t for older adults w h o have dement i a, b ut if p ati ents don'thave some onet ohel p  them  appl yf or those services, the ymay no t get  the help the y need, sa i d CynthiaBart o n, a geriatric nu rse p ractitione r  at UCSF 's Me mory and  Aging Ce n t er.

"Fi lli ngout  fo r m s,  navigating t h e  sys te m, thes e k inds of  th ing s c anbe  overwhel ming," B ar to nsa id.  "Itc an be cu mb ers om e f or al l  of us . Itcanbe  q u ite  a chal l en g e  for  s om eone  wi th  cogn itiv e  pr oblems. "

Thesegat e keep er smight i nclude mail c ar riers, pol ic e o fficer s ,  churchmembers and even salonw orkersand  groc eryclerks wh o h ave re gul a r cont act wi th cu st ome r s . Int h eo ry,  t hey are pe o p lewho w ou ld k now tolook out for basic sym ptoms - an el der ly w o m an  wh o  s t art sm iss i n g Sunday church  services,  f o rexample, o r  ama n who h as stop ped p i cking u p his mai l.

"If y ou  hav e anenvironmen t wherepeople ar e  look i ng  outfor  eachot her , tha t help s  to  prot ect pe op le who  aremo re vulne rable," Scharlach said.  "Butmostofus don'thav e  th at."

See king  help

Box ersug gests  th a t any onew ho  is conce rned about ano ld era d ul t's cogniti v e hea lth " enc o uragethat  person to come i n  for an evalua tion . "  If  th e  per so n refuses andthe re ' s  concern  t hat his orher heal th is at  risk,  adult  protec t i ve servic es s hou ld be con tac te d , he sa id ."I wou ld t al k to t he per s on f i r st, but don't le ave i t at th a t,"  Boxe rsaid. " I f, i n your hea rt of heart s, you 'reworri ed they 'r e notfin e,  you shoul d  take ita ste p furth er . I' d r atherbe w r o ng an d em ba rra ss the pe r s on ali t tle  bit  than  t o mi ss this.. . . You ha vet o be to ug h i n theses it u a tions."

 and_public health_experts expect the number_of people_facing_dementia on_their_own to increase.

With_that in mind,_they're working now to_develop support systems_to_try to identify and diagnose people as soon as possible. The idea is to_get_patients the_support_they_need before the disease has_progressed to the point where_they can_no longer care for themselves.

Early treatment

There is no_cure_for Alzheimer's, but_drugs can slow the disease, if patients start treatment_early enough.

Patients who are diagnosed early_also can start_preparing_for_the disease's inevitable progression_- by filling out forms expressing_their health care wishes, appointing someone_to take over their finances, and even_arranging for services like transportation and_meal delivery that they may_need later_on.

Plenty of services

A lot of_services exist for_older adults_who have dementia,_but if patients don't have someone_to help them_apply for those services, they may_not_get the help_they_need,_said Cynthia_Barton, a geriatric_nurse_practitioner at_UCSF's_Memory and Aging Center.

"Filling out forms,_navigating_the system, these kinds of things can_be overwhelming," Barton said._"It_can be cumbersome for_all of us. It can_be quite a challenge for someone_with cognitive_problems."

These gatekeepers_might include mail carriers, police officers, church members and even salon_workers and grocery clerks who have_regular contact with customers._In theory,_they_are people who_would_know to_look out for basic symptoms - an_elderly woman_who starts missing Sunday church services,_for example, or a_man_who has stopped picking up his_mail.

"If you have an environment where_people are looking out for_each_other,_that helps to protect people_who are more vulnerable," Scharlach said._"But most of_us don't have that."

Seeking help

Boxer suggests that_anyone_who is concerned about an older_adult's_cognitive health "encourage that person to_come_in_for an evaluation." If the_person refuses and there's concern that_his or her health is at risk, adult protective_services should be_contacted, he said.

"I would talk_to_the_person first, but don't leave it at that," Boxer said._"If, in_your heart of_hearts, you're worried they're not fine, you should take it_a step further. I'd rather be wrong_and embarrass the person a little bit than to miss this...._You have to be tough in these situations."
