Dear Editor,
I want to give a “shout out” to the nursing home in Tarkio, Tarkio Rehabilitation and Health Care. Recently, a resident of the nursing home lost their son to an illness; she herself became ill and was hospitalized and returned to Tarkio Rehab on hospice. She was not able to travel to a memorial service for her son, so Tarkio Rehab, Shawn Minter and Pastor Glenn Scott brought the memorial service to her. She was able to attend and be present for the memorial service for her son. Tarkio Rehab was very accommodating, had chairs set up for folks who attended the service and the residents of the facility were able to support their friend during her loss. I so appreciate the resources we have in our community to meet the needs of our people. In case you don’t know, “we are blessed to live in rural Missouri”. We take care of each other.
Jayne Scott
Dear Editor,
The Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report illustrates that the burden of Alzheimer’s in our country and in our state is continuing to grow. More people are living with the disease. More family and friends are serving as Alzheimer’s caregivers. Death rates from Alzheimer’s continue to climb, and the costs are unsustainable. Despite these increases, to me, Alzheimer’s disease is personal. As Public Administrator, I work with several individuals in varied stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Each one is different, yet the same in that the memory fades and cognition diminishes.
The report also reveals that, despite widespread awareness from patients and primary care physicians of the benefits of early detection and the belief that brief cognitive assessments are beneficial, just half of seniors (47 percent) are being assessed for cognitive decline, and only one in seven are receiving regular assessments.
As the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s continues to increase, we need to make sure the disease is being detected early and that diagnosed individuals have the best opportunity to plan for the future. Routine assessment of thinking and memory for seniors is an important first step. If you are over the age of 65, the next time you go to your physician for your annual exam, remind your physician that a cognitive assessment is covered by the Medicare Annual Wellness Exam and request this exam for yourself. Let’s all be more proactive in discussing and assessing cognition in the exam room, so changes that warrant further attention can be addressed in a timely manner.
A monthly Alzheimer’s support group for caregivers meets on the third Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Community Hospital-Fairfax. An advocate from the Alzheimer’s Association in St. Joseph leads the group. If you or someone you know is caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, I encourage your attendance to this group.
Jayne Scott
