Florida Department of Health
Press Release
Contact: Amber Teeters
[email protected]
November 16, 2020
The older adult community (Ages 65 and older) make up about 22% of the overall population of Nassau County. Promoting health in this population is one of the priorities of the Florida Department of Health in Nassau County and partnerships for Healthier Nassau’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to improve overall health throughout the county.
The Alzheimer’s Association states that 1 in 3 seniors die of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month is celebrated in November and raises awareness of the disease and promotes resources for impacted individuals and their families.
In Nassau County, Alzheimer’s Disease is the 7th leading cause of death in the county. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes memory loss and loss of ability to perform cognitive tasks. The severity of the disease progresses over time. There are medications and treatments that help suppress symptoms, however there is no known cure for this disease. Despite popular belief, a person can develop early onset Alzheimer’s and develop the disease before the age of 65. The Alzheimer’s Association states that some warning signs of Alzheimer’s development include:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understand 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 judgement
9. Withdraw from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality
Based on ample amounts of research the following lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease:
1. Participate in regular physical exercise
2. Maintain a healthy diet
3. Maintain strong social connections
4. Participate in daily activities that stimulate brain activity such as puzzles or memory games
The Florida Department of Health in Nassau County is working with Nassau Council on Aging, ElderSource, and Nassau Board of County Commission Departments to increase community support for the older adult citizen population and their families throughout the community. One of the objectives is to provide older adults with social programs to decrease isolation. Another objective is to increase support to caregivers throughout the community. This strategy was decided by the local community when the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) was launched in 2019. There is also a workgroup led by the Age Friendly Livable Communities Nassau project working to increase social connections for older adults. If you have interest in helping us care for each other, please call or email Mary von Mohr at 904-557-9133, [email protected]. There are many ways you can get involved and we welcome your ideas.
For More Information About Alzheimer’s Disease
Visit: https://www.alz.org/alzheimer_s_dementia
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov .
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