Have you noticed any warning signs of dementia? Consider a brain check

By Correne Martin 

There are approximately 500 individuals living in Crawford County with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, according to the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eagle Country.

That number is on the low end of estimation, and it is expected to triple in the next 20-30 years, shared Gina Laack, ADRC dementia care specialist, who provided free brain checks to about half a dozen people at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library Tuesday. 

Those who stopped by the scheduled event sat with Laack one-on-one for the confidential 10-15 minute session, which involved a series of three short tests to determine if there were possible memory impairments or not. 

“We won’t diagnose though,” Laack noted. 

The informal meetings were available to any seniors who may have personally noticed or had family notice some potential warning signs for dementia, or to anyone who simply wanted to find their own memory baseline. 

“A lot of times, people are afraid to go to the doctor first,” Laack said. 

Though this was a planned offering at the library, the ADRC offers these brain checks at anytime for free. Seniors are welcome at the ADRC office, inside the Crawford County Administration Building, suite 117, to meet with a dementia care specialist. Call 326-0235 if interested in this or any of the ADRC’s dementia-friendly services. 

As a dementia care specialist, Laack is responsible for assisting individuals and families living with dementia to continue to be active in their community and remain in their homes as long as they are able.