The Foundation
We are working to defeat this disease and achieve a future in which aging is associated with positive experiences.
We are working to defeat this disease and achieve a future in which aging is associated with positive experiences.
I want to help defeat this disease
We talk about Alzheimer's and its impact on those affected and their families.
We believe that only through research will we achieve a future without Alzheimer's.
We work towards changing the social perception of the disease through dissemination and public advocacy.
We put Alzheimer's on the political agenda.
Help us continue investigating.
If you have reached this page, you may be worried about yourself or someone close to you who has been or may be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. If so, we recommend that you visit our FAQ section on the disease before continuing to read on.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhether the suspicion is about you or you are worried about someone close to you, the first thing you should do is clarify whether the suspicion is real or not.
Go to your health center and ask your family doctor any questions you may have.
This is the first person who can help you if you suspect a case of Alzheimer's: he or she will evaluate what you tell them and decide whether it is relevant to refer you to neurology for further study.
If you are going as a companion, the information you provide as a close person will be very valuable. You can make their job easier by doing this short survey before the first meeting.
They will perform a physical examination and collect your medical history.
If after the visit to primary care it is considered that there are reasons to study the observed cognitive changes in more depth, they will refer you to a specialist in geriatrics or neurology.
The specialist will prepare the medical history and perform a more in-depth and exhaustive physical examination with which he or she will be able to provide an answer.
Additional tests may be ordered, such as a blood test or imaging test (CT or MRI). The purpose is to refine the diagnosis and rule out other types of diseases.
It is important to note that, in many cases, a visit to a neurologist is not synonymous with suffering from Alzheimer's, since people go through periods of poorer performance that may be caused by stress or depression, among other causes.
Neurology or geriatrics specialists may consider it necessary to carry out a cognitive examination by neuropsychology experts to assess memory, attention, orientation, language and reasoning, among others, through questionnaires. The information provided by the companion will also be important here.
The Law on the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for Dependent Persons provides a series of services and economic benefits to guarantee the right of citizens to the promotion of personal autonomy and care for dependent persons, taking into account the needs of the person, the family and social environment and the availability of resources.
Contact a social worker in your area, as they will provide you with information on aid, activities and other resources that can help you cope with each phase of Alzheimer's disease. They can also advise you on how to apply for the Dependency Law and on how and when to consider assistance or guardianship.
During Alzheimer's disease, as long as the diagnosed person is autonomous, he or she may not need support or may be able to take on certain tasks on his or her own.
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's, as the disease progresses, it is good to have other options that help you prolong your autonomy, have more free time and stay active, both physically and mentally. Find out about the resources available to you and find what best suits you.
AFAs are non-profit organizations that care for the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's and their families.
They are usually created on the initiative of the caregiving families themselves and offer care throughout the process. Most have specialists who offer guidance on resources, activities, etc.
More information
These centres accommodate people with neurodegenerative diseases during the day.
They carry out different non-pharmacological therapies that help maintain the personal and social autonomy of the person with dementia. They can also offer other basic services, such as adapted transport, meals, basic health care, hairdressing, etc.
The length of stay is indefinite, as it depends on the progress of the disease. The schedule varies depending on each center, but can last up to a whole week.
These are public centres designed to accommodate people with Alzheimer's and other health problems that prevent them from living at home.
These are temporary stays that offer health and personal assistance, food and accommodation in boarding or day care.
Residences are public, subsidized or private centers where elderly people and/or people with a certain degree of dependency live temporarily or permanently.
To access public centres, you must formally apply for a place and follow a waiting list that can sometimes last for years.
They offer the caregiver the possibility of having a few hours, days or weeks of rest (due to exhaustion, holidays, weekends, need for an intervention, etc.) while the family member is being cared for.
These are public or private specialized services made up of professionals who provide help and assistance at the home of the person with Alzheimer's with the aim of improving their quality of life in their usual environment. The professional profiles that offer this type of service are:
Other professionals who can provide their services at home are:
