A: Alzheimer’s  disease is the cruelest form of dementia , the one most people fear, the one most talked about and the one requiring the most dire physical and mental health treatment. Dementia is a common disabling geriatric condition. It is also a serious brain disorder that covers a wide spectrum of cognitive problems while Alzheimer’s disease has unique physical and brain conditions that the dementia disorder does not have. Alzheimer’s disease is also known as a demented disease or condition of unknown disease, and it may be the result of a diminished supply of a neurotransmitter that allows brain cells to converse, think, and operate efficiently and effectively. There is a marked increase in Alzheimer’s disease because of aging and it may also come about as the result of a head injury, acute stroke, brain tumor, drinking too much alcohol, a motor vehicle accident, falls, a gunshot to the brain, too much stress, or too much depression.

Q: How can one recognize Alzheimer’s disease in an individual?

A: You can detect Alzheimer’s disease very easily, especially if you have a loved one that you are very close to, and you begin to see uncommon behaviors manifest in that particular individual. The symptoms will be very repetitive. For example: forgetting details about recent events; losing the ability to recognize when danger will occur; loosing interest or excitement about what they once enjoyed; getting lost on the road where they would previously walk or drive; inability to carry out everyday activities or follow instructions; difficulty concentrating; misplacing items/objects; difficulty making plans, dressing, cooking, making phone calls… I can recall a particular incident in which an individual was crying out loudly for no apparent reason, and when I approached them to find out why, the answer was “I don’t know why.” Victims also tend to be extremely emotional. Sometimes they are unable to recognize family members that just saw within a three day time frame. The list goes on and on.

Q: Is there a particular population of individuals that are most at risk for Alzheimer’s disease?

A: It occurs mostly at age 60 and older. It can also develop at a younger age like the 30’s for instance. In most of these cases, the disease is hereditary. There are actually several combinations of genes that can contribute to the development or at least the proclivity to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Q: Is Alzheimer’s disease treatable and if so, what are some of the strategies used in treatment?

A: There is no available cure to date, but with the proper medications, an individual can have temporary relief depending on the stage of the disease. In fact, some of the medications do not control the disease itself, but help with the accompanying behavior. Additionally, as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, activities in LTC, adult day care, assisted living, can help reconnect them with more functional tasks. The earlier they begin to reconnect with the world, the greater the likelihood to reduce cognitive impairment. Visiting places like the bowling alley, zoo, movie theatre, or a favorite restaurant and involvement in activities such as arts & crafts, playing bingo more than once for the week can have a significant positive impact.

Q: How does one effectively care for a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s disease?

A: As people live longer, there is an increased risk for severe disabilities that require the assistance of others on a long term care basis. Caregivers are predominantly women and include wives, daughters, sisters, daughter-in-laws, aunties and nieces. Many persons find satisfaction in the caregiver role. Family will remain the most important source of information regarding the expectations and awareness of the disease. A victim’s family acts as a lifeline to that individual. The cruelest thing is for a victim’s family to not be engaged in their life. Additionally, leaving the burden on one family member is never a good thing either. I always advise having quarterly family meeting to give regular updates and plan out the sharing of responsibilities.

A: Simply put, financial planning is the setting of goals and guidelines for your monies. We have all heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Financial planning provides an opportunity for you to take control of your finances. In essence, you assess your current financial position, identifying where you want to be in “X” number of years, and determine how you will get there.

Q: What age do you recommend that an individual begin to develop a financial plan and how does one begin to do so?

A: Financial planning should begin, although uncommon, in 9th grade or earlier. When students enter high school they are no more than 3 years away from being 18 and “grown.” When those 3 years end, most students will be on there way to college, the military, or a job. When the student completes high school he/she takes on a new level of increased responsibility around their finances. Since we know this time will be coming, there is an opportunity to prepare for the transition. High school is the perfect time to sit down and identify where you are financially and where you want to be. Most people are at ground zero, so you can chart your course.  Doing this puts purpose in your dollar. Now, I wish that there was someone to tell me to plan my finances when I was in high school, because when I got to college, as a business major, the dialogue with my professors would have proven more meaningful. If you are like me and did not begin planning your finances in high school, do not be alarmed, you can start today! How? Understand and be honest with yourself about the difference between what you need and what you want financially. Focus first on your needs. This entails looking at how much money you spend monthly on everything from eating out to buying books. If your needs are not met, consider cutting out a portion or all of your wants until you satisfy what you need. After your needs are satisfied, begin planning for retirement. Study the market and other places where you can get a good return on your money.

Q: What do you think is the number one thing that people do to sabotage their financial futures and what would you recommend that one does to avoid it?

A: My people perish for the lack of knowledge. Most people do not invest the time in themselves to find out what they have/don’t have financially. This simple step is crucial to understanding where you should begin planning financially. However, if you don’t know that you have an issue, it is that much more difficult to fix. Knowledge is power.

Q: Using your risk management experience, how would you advise someone to effectively manage risk in terms of investments that they may have?

A: In order to manage risk you must perform your due diligence on an investment through research, q & a, etc.. so you will be knowledgeable about the potential upside and downside of any investment you choose.