Melanie Miller, Kathryn Obert, Metta Smith,

and Tyler Pearson

Auburn University School of Nursing

Alzheimer’s Disease Smiths Station, AL

Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_f

igures.asp

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia

that causes problems with memory,

thinking and behavior.

Alzheimer’s Disease Basics

• Alzheimer’s is the

most common form

of dementia

• Alzheimer’s is NOT a

normal part of aging

• Alzheimer’s worsens

over time

• Alzheimer’s has no

cure

Risk Factors

• Greatest Risk Factor:

Advanced Age

• Family History

• Genetics

Overview • Location: Smiths Station, AL right next to Phenix City

• Population: 4,926

• Leading Industry: Sales and office

• Median Age: 36.1 years

• Race Composition: • 80.3% White

• 15.9% African American

• 2.8% Hispanic or Latino

• 2.0% 2 or more races

Overview Cont. • Education Level:

• High school degree or higher: 35.3%

• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.9%

• Median Household Income: $43,977

• Religion: • Most common is Baptist

Health Background • Leading Cause of Death: Heart Disease

• Alzheimer’s is 6th

• Nearest Hospital: Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in

Phenix City, AL • 9 miles away

• Most Common Acute and Chronic Morbidity: Diabetes

The homes range from new construction, to mobile homes, to houses

built in the 70’s.

Most of the homes are well maintained while others are not.

Healthy People 2020 Goal

Reduce the morbidity and costs associated with,

and maintain or enhance the quality of life for,

persons with dementia, including Alzheimer’s

disease.

Health People 2020 Objective

HP 2020 Objective: Increase the proportion of persons with diagnosed

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, or their caregiver, who are

aware of the diagnosis and reduce the proportion of preventable

hospitalizations in persons with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and other

dementias

Project Objective: Increase the proportion of people in Smith’s

Station, Alabama, who recognize the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s

disease and whom to contact when the signs are present in order to

prevent injuries and accidents

Nursing Diagnosis Risk of knowledge deficit among families in Smiths Station related to

the lack of education identifying the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk of altered health maintenance among families in Smiths Station related to lack of healthcare facilities that can accommodate patients with Alzheimer’s disease and lack of regular screenings for dementias including Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk of interrupted family processes among families in Smiths Station related to a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who is experiencing memory loss, increased irritability, and the inability to perform normal daily activities.

Purpose

To increase the knowledge of the citizens of

Smiths Station, AL on Alzheimer’s disease and

to inform them of the early warning signs of

Alzheimer's disease in order to seek early

treatment and slow the progression of the

disease.

Our Intervention Target Population: Citizens of Smiths Station age 65 or older

Location: Rainbow Foods in Smiths Station, AL

Primary Intervention:

• Present a poster to inform people of the early warning signs of

Alzheimer’s disease and the risk factors

• Hand out questionnaires to acquire what knowledge people have

related to Alzheimer’s disease

• Hand out flyers to inform people about Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer's is the most common form of

dementia

Age Family history Genetics

• If you notice any signs in yourself or someone you know, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Alzheimer's is a type dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's has no cure, but treatment is available.

Risk Factors

What is Alzheimer’s

Disease? 10 Warning Signs

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 spatial 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

Why Get Checked?

What’s next?

• The Alzheimer's Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, education, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease. For more information go to http://www.alz.org

Treatment can slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

• Get the maximum benefit from available treatments

• Have more time to plan for the future

• Get help for you and your loved ones

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

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 spatial 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

We presented our poster at Rainbow Foods grocery store

We handed out flyers at the Smiths Station Senior Activities Center

Literary Review • Study by S. Lee, H. Lee, and Diwan

• The fact that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured is stopping

people from seeking medical treatment

• The need for information about the benefits of early treatment

• Clear up misconceptions

• Study by Blay, Furtado, and Peluso • People need to be more active in their health maintenance

• Study by Sullivan and O’Conor • Important to provide take-home information about Alzheimer’s

disease

Evaluation • Evaluation of our intervention by:

• Number of questionnaires passed out (26) • Number of questionnaires completed and returned (23) • Results of the questionnaires • Number of flyers passed out

• The results of the questionnaire proved the need for more information related to Alzheimer’s disease

• 63 correct answers out of 138 questions

• Limitations: • No effective way to conclude the amount of knowledge the participants

gained after talking with them • Post-test would have been beneficial

Conclusion

Informing the citizens of Smiths Station, AL about

the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and

the importance of early treatment will assist the

community in recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s

disease in order to prevent injuries and slow the

progression of the disease.

Questions?