Post-Katrina Confusion

Article submitted by Joe O'Neal with O2Neal Medical, Inc.
For more information, he can be reached at 205-989-9902.

Article submitted by Nancy Bologna, Ph.D., Director, Alzheimer's Residential Care Homes.
For more information, she can be reached at 504-914-6006.

In these Post-Katrina days, many friends and acquaintances have commented to me about their increased forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. We usually laugh about how disorganized our lives have become, and I recount the Tuesday my electrician showed up at my house after a phone conversation with me that I still don't remember having!! It's as if a certain level of cognitive impairment has become "normal" in these stressful days.

However, after years of working with families struggling with Alzheimer's disease, I know that genuine cognitive decline is no laughing matter. I also know that stressful events often cause a sharp decline in memory and other cognitive functions - particularly in those individuals who were already beginning to show signs of mild impairment. How can we tell the difference between symptoms of "Post-Katrina Stress" and something more serious, such as the early stages of Alzheimer's disease?

Certainly a visit to an experienced health care professional is important - but difficult in these days of limited resources. So, taking a practical conservative approach, watch carefully for signs of improvement or further decline. Stress related cognitive change will gradually improve - symptoms of disease such as Alzheimer's gradually worsen. Honestly consider whether there were any signs of mild cognitive impairment before the storm. For individuals experiencing genuine decline, such as in Alzheimer's disease, stress will rapidly worsen symptoms that were very mild initially. Be vigilant about safety risks. The confusion that accompanies even early stage Alzheimer's can pose serious safety risks. Seniors who are living in unfamiliar surroundings (and what does look familiar these days!) are prone to far greater confusion than if they were securely in their own homes with their own familiar neighborhoods and daily routines. Now, more than ever, when we are all so busy, safety and supervision needs to be a major focus.

Finally, if symptoms indicate more than "Post-Katrina Stress," recognize the need for continuous supervision either at home or in a residential facility. We are fortunate in New Orleans to have a menu of facilities specializing in the care of cognitively impaired seniors. These include group homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Use the Seniors Resource Guide. Visit and find the right place to provide comfort, nurturing and Post-Katrina piece of mind for the entire family.