Understanding the difference: Alzheimer's disease and Dementia - Hurley Elder Care Law | Georgia's #1 Certified Elder Law Attorney

Understanding the difference: Alzheimers disease and Dementia
June 11, 2024
POSTED IN: Aging TAGS: Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia
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Dementia and Alzheimers disease are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct terms with specific meanings in the context of cognitive decline in aging adults.Understanding the difference is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.Defining dementiaDementia is an umbrella term that describes various symptoms affecting cognitive abilities, such as memory, reasoning, and communication skills.It is not a specific disease but a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with daily activities.

Various conditions can cause dementia, including Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.Alzheimers disease causes dementiaAlzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the gradual decline of cognitive functions.The exact cause of Alzheimers is not fully understood, but it involves the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which disrupt neural communication and lead to brain cell death.Get a diagnosis!Detecting dementia and Alzheimers in aging adults requires careful observation and medical evaluation.

Early signs include memory loss, difficulty completing familiar tasks, confusion with time or place, and changes in mood or behavior.If these symptoms are noticed, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional who can perform cognitive tests, neurological exams, and brain imaging to diagnose the condition accurately.Early detection is vital for managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia or Alzheimers.While there is currently no cure, treatments, and interventions can slow the progression of symptoms and help individuals maintain independence longer.

As a caregiver or healthcare professional, your role is crucial in providing comprehensive care for those affected, making a significant difference in their lives.Hurley Elder Care Law estimates close to 75% of our clients have some type of cognitive impairment.This is one reason we encourage our client families to contact us as soon as these signs become evident.We always say, The sooner you plan, the more options you have.

Our experienced certified elder law attorneys, public benefits specialists, and care coordinators create the best plan for your familys specific legal, financial, and care needs.Call Hurley Elder Care Law, Georgias premiere elder law firm, at 404-843-0121 to discuss your elder law needs.
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Posted in AgingTags: Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia

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Client TestimonialsSuperb service through a difficult maze of governmental regulations and requirements which are not navigable by an individual without a depth of knowledge that far exceeds mine.Wallace M.Due to aging, escalating health and cost concerns for both my husband and myself, I chose to work with Hurley Elder Care to do care and estate planning.

I am so very pleased with the result.I have a much improved understanding of the complexity of this process, the necessary documents, timing, regulations and the need for professional guidance.Gina M.All I can say is Wow ! I have never seen a team attack and solve a problem like Hurley.We lost our father and two weeks later our mother suffered a severe stroke.

Nursing home costs were draining their life savings, but Hurley found a solution and got things under control.Gary G.Hurley Elder Care Law went to work for my Mother and navigated all of the Government red tape and got her approved for Medicaid in short order.I, as her POA, could not even begin to climb the mountain of paperwork on my own.David Q.Very comfortable atmosphere.They treat you like you are one of the family.Val B.It's impossible to accurately describe the lost feeling of realizing you need power of attorney, updated will and general guidance all of a sudden when dealing with a parent with dementia.

The firms responsiveness has been superb, their work flawless and their advice kind, compassionate and professional.I'll forever know that their guidance prevented us from making many bad decisions.Neal R.
We had a great experience with Hurley Elder Law.They helped us put my parents wills, advanced directive and POA in order.

They hold informative classes helping families to navigate all the new policies, laws and resources.Highly recommend.read moreread less Lisa McIntyre 5/17/2024 We were pleased with the methodical, thorough approach Hurley used to update or wills and handle details of our estate planning.We highly recommend their services.read moreread less Don Barnett 5/17/2024 I needed to redraft my will, health care directive and power of attorney after my divorce and estrangement from a child.

Needless to say, it was an emotionally delicate process but Jennifer was incredibly sympathetic and really knows her stuff! Shes uber-professional but personable and the entire revision process took a matter of several weeks and was fairly priced.I love that the firm sends newsletters with articles that are of interest to those in the later stages of life and their loved ones who might be caring for them.Nobody enjoys thinking about their eventual demise but it must be done if you want to make it easier for those left behind.

Highly recommend!read moreread less Karen Stearns 4/10/2024 Working with Jennifer and her team at Hurley was a great experience.Communication is excellent and they were very professional and efficient throughout the entire process.Highly recommend them!read moreread less Harris Wattles 3/08/2024 Wish I could give 10 stars.

We left the meeting knowing we had received excellent advice.Advice was very clear and easy for my mother to understand.We feel so lucky to have found Hurley Elder Care Law.read moreread less Tammy Davis 2/04/2024 I went to Hurley to get help for my wife.

Everyone involved in the process has been informative, attentive, and compassionate.Hurley is definitely the place to go when you need help!read moreread less D Gooden 2/04/2024 I retained Hurley ECL in May of 2023 to work on behalf of my recently widowed mother.I cannot offer high enough praise for this outstanding firm.

Their team approach is a model of efficiency, and efficacy.The level of care they provide the client is unsurpassed in my experience.We were blessed to have been referred to them.read moreread less Louis Mura 12/23/2023 The entire staff was excellent to deal with.

Courteous, professional, and knowledgeable service, they were always prompt in answering questions and being able to direct me through the process of selling my parents home.I would not hesitate to recommend them for all of your elder care legal services.read moreread less James & Susie Wynn 12/09/2023 I have been so pleased with Hurley EC Law's skilled and knowledgeable service.Kaila, from the beginning, has patiently assisted me in my "learning curve" as executor in the probate/estate phase.

Hurley's professional staff are available for calls and thru email, to address and answer every question I've needed during this unfamilar process.And Kiersten, who was assigned to assist me for my final phase, has been on point from the introduction.She was completely informed on my file, which assured me that she'd put in the work to know where we were in the process when she stepped in.

Kiersten is a very professional and personable Blessing to me who constantly keeps me updated on changes and what I need to do to keep on task the "Hurley way".She consistently follows thru on getting out the appropriate documents and notifications needed in getting every task done.Many thanks to Kiersten.

I finally do see the light at the end of this very long tunnel.I would highly recommend Hurley ECL to family and friends.read moreread less Bj Harris 12/07/2023 The team at Hurley Elder Care Law (Kaila Crowder, Nicole Lott & Paul Abrahamson) were very attentive and supportive.They guided me through every step of the process to help my dad.

Any steps I needed to take were extremely clear and easy to execute.They did exactly what they said they would do from beginning to end.They provided regular status updates and phone calls to check on our well-being.

I would highly recommend Hurley Elder Care for your elder family members needs.read moreread less Nick Brown 12/07/2023 Exceptional High Quality Customer Service has been given from the Law Firm ( especially from Andrew and Nicole.)read moreread less Sandra Walker 11/13/2023 We are a very close-knit and spiritual family, and we love and cherish the opportunity of taking care of our family.It was very painful when we learned that one of our dear and senior siblings had developed a severe case of dementia.And this family member was being cared for by an older sibling, which cannot be sustained.

To this end we searched and found Hurley Elder Care Law, who is very experienced in this area of assisting families with finding senior care in this area.Hurley Elder Care Law assisted us in finding a facility which specializes in senior living and rehabilitation care.Additionally, Hurley Elder Care Law has assisted us in getting this family member qualified under Medicaid and they were very professional throughout the entire time and process.

We would highly recommend them to others seeking similar needs and care.read moreread less MATTHEW NORTHCUTT 11/13/2023 I hired Hurley Law because my research showed that they were the most trusted elder law group in Atlanta.Danielle did not disappoint; she was compassionate, hard working, and ultimately won the dispute on my behalf.Great work, Danielle!read moreread less Tony Nettleman 9/19/2023 The team at Hurley are amazing.

I was frankly astonished at the results they were able to provide for my elderly mom.I wholeheartedly recommend Hurley Elder Care Law!read moreread less Sid Stephens 8/07/2023 My family is so thankful we found our way to Hurley Elder Care.We initially met with them just to discuss updating my parents legal documents.

Mom has dementia and she still held my dads health care power of attorney.Miles Hurley is a wealth of knowledge and opened our eyes to ways to protect my parents assets as well as getting mom approved for Medicaid so in home services can be provided to assist my parents.We worked closely with Paul to provide all the needed documents.

His knowledge and patience were appreciated every step of the way.Nicole was also a wealth of information and always available to answer questions and assist us.There is no way we could have navigated this process without Paul and Nicole!read moreread less Cathy R.

8/01/2023 I chose Hurley Elder Care based on all the positive customer reviews and I am so glad I chose them.They are experts in their field and made the Medicaid process stress-free.Prior to partnering with Hurley Elder Care I wasn't getting much sleep due to all the unknown.

Kaila Crowder and Nicole Lott were amazing! They were there every step of the way and now my grandma is on Medicaid! I highly recommend Hurley Elder Care! Also, if I were to look back at the top decisions I have made in my lifetime, partnering with Hurley Elder Care would make that list!!!read moreread less Brian Railey 7/17/2023











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