“I think the first piece of advice I would give anyone is, you don’t have to face Alzheimer’s disease or dementia alone,” said Becca Verda, communications manager for the Washington branch of the Alzheimer’s Association.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Verda said in the spirit of awareness, the association wants to stress that Alzheimer’s and dementia are not normal parts of aging.

“As people age,  you can maintain brain and cognitive (function) well into your 80s and 90s and beyond,” Verda said, “so when someone experiences dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, that’s not a normal part of aging.”

She added that it’s “really important to address” the fact that it’s not normal, as well as the importance of diagnosis.

“If you’re diagnosed early, you can make decisions about your care, what you want your family to do, you can have those conversations very early,” Verda said.

“What we hear really often is that people think seeking diagnosis is pointless because there is no treatment or cure, but if you receive a diagnosis early in the disease, the power you have to plan for the future really changes the course of the disease, not only for the person who has the diagnosis, but for their entire family.”

The Alzheimer’s Association promotes the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the awareness month. Verda said that people find these warning signs “really helpful.”

“They’re always, if they’ve had Alzheimer’s disease in their family, they worry when they start to forget things and aren’t really sure what they should look out for,” Verda said, “so the 10 warning signs are really helpful (in deciding) if you need to go to the doctor or not.”

The 10 warning signs include:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

4. Confusion with time or place.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spacial relationships.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

8. Decreased or poor judgment.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

10. Changes in mood and personality.

“When you go to the doctor, your doctor will rule out any other cause of memory loss or cognitive decline before diagnosing Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Verda said.

She said that one of the main questions people have for the Alzheimer’s Association is what to do after a diagnosis.

“We hear very often that when people are diagnosed, they don’t know where to turn, who to talk to or what to do first,” Verda said.

She added, “You are handed a diagnosis of a terminal disease with no treatment or cure; you’re also told that the average lifespan after diagnosis can fall anywhere from three to 20 years. That’s not a lot of information.

“People just have so many questions about what it means to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, what the disease progression looks like, how they can plan for the future and really cope with some of the logistical care questions they have, and also the emotional questions they have about how to cope with (diagnosis).”

She suggests contacting the Alzheimer’s Association. Their helpline (1-800-272-3900) is available 24/7, and is manned by master’s-level social workers.

“You can call at 2 a.m. on Christmas, and someone will be there to talk to about your personal situation and what’s going on with you individually,” she said.

The association can also help connect people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or their loved ones and caregivers, with community resources offering support, care and education.

“I would say the first thing to do after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is really seek that care and support in your community through the Alzheimer’s Association, cause we can connect you to a huge network of support,” she said. “People living with the disease and caregivers alike need a community of support to help them through this disease.”

She said that sometimes initial diagnosis can just tell someone they have some form of dementia; the Alzheimer’s Association can help connect people with doctors who can narrow down what type of dementia they have to ensure they receive proper treatment.

Verda also said there are a number of ways to help slow down the progression of the disease.

“Lifestyle changes you can make, like quitting smoking, exercising, eating well, maintaining social activity — we know that all of those things slow the progression of the disease,” Verda said.

There are a number of support groups in Kitsap County for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and their loved ones and caregivers.

— Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, 206-842-5243

— Group Health Cooperative in Silverdale, 360-307-7368

— Harbor House in Poulsbo, 360-779-5533

— Life Care Center of Port Orchard, 360-876-8035

— Marine Court at Bay Pointe in Bremerton, 360-373-9904

— Martha & Mary Health Services in Poulsbo, 360-779-7500

— Orchard Pointe Memory Care in Port Orchard, 360-874-7400

Verda also recommended visiting an Alzheimer’s Cafe, such as the Global Bean, located at 2021 NW Myhre Road, Silverdale. Alzheimer’s cafes are “social programs where people with dementia and their care partners can come and just relax in a judgment-free environment,” Verda said.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, community resources or ways to help fundraise for Alzheimer’s research and support, visit www.alzwa.org. The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline is 1-800-272-3900.