Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: What Every Family Should Know and How to Care for the Caregiver

Around the world, some 57 million people live with dementia, and in the United States more than 7 million are living with Alzheimer’s.

This disease knows no borders, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally.

It hits women and African American and Latino communities harder, and in these communities many cases are diagnosed late.

“My mom is getting older; it’s normal for her to forget things.” Many Latino families have said or heard these words.

Repeated questions, lost keys or names that won’t come are written off as “just old age” and brushed aside.

But Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.

It is a disease, and the sooner it is recognized, the more options a family has to take care of itself, plan ahead and get support.

Recognizing the signs early and knowing where to ask for help can change a family’s story.

Alzheimer’s is growing worldwide and weighs more heavily on our community

Worldwide, about 57 million people were living with dementia in 2021, and nearly 10 million new cases are added each year.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form, accounting for 60% to 70% of cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO also notes that dementia is now the seventh leading cause of death worldwide.

And more than 60% of people affected live in low- and middle-income countries, like many of the countries our families come from.

In the United States

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 7.4 million people age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s today.

That number could reach 13.8 million by 2060 unless there are medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure it.

The same report shows that deaths from Alzheimer’s rose more than 134% between 2000 and 2024.

Women are more affected

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, at age 45 the lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 5 for women, compared with 1 in 10 for men.

And according to the WHO, women also provide about 70% of the care hours for people living with dementia.

Differences between communities

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, African Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or another dementia as white Americans.

And Hispanic or Latino Americans are about 1.5 times as likely.

But diagnosis doesn’t keep up with that risk.

The same organization estimates that African Americans are only 34% more likely to receive a diagnosis, and Hispanics just 18% more likely.

In other words, many cases in our communities are going undetected.

Why?

The Alzheimer’s Association explains that the Latino community has higher rates of uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as more heart disease and strokes, conditions that also affect brain health.

On top of that, there are more barriers to preventive services and early diagnosis, along with factors such as education, income and type of work.

And there is one barrier we know well: the belief that memory loss is “just old age.”

Here in our region

According to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 162,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s in these two states.

And about 261,000 family caregivers provide some 323 million hours of unpaid care each year.

In Latino culture, caring for our elders at home is an expression of love and family unity, but it can also be a very heavy load when carried alone and without information.

The 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association identifies 10 warning signs.

Having one of them does not mean a person has Alzheimer’s, but it is a reason to see a doctor.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Forgetting recently learned information, asking the same question over and over, or relying more and more on notes or family members to remember.
Challenges in planning or solving problems. For example, new trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks. Getting lost while driving to a familiar place, or forgetting the rules of a favorite game.
Confusion with time or place. Losing track of dates or seasons, or forgetting where you are and how you got there.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. Difficulty reading, judging distance or telling colors apart, which can affect driving.
New problems with words in speaking or writing. Stopping in the middle of a conversation with no idea how to continue, or calling things by the wrong name.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. Putting things in unusual places (keys in the refrigerator) and sometimes accusing others of stealing them.
Decreased or poor judgment. For example, giving large amounts of money to strangers or neglecting personal hygiene.
Withdrawal from work or social activities. Giving up activities you used to enjoy, such as going to church, playing dominoes or spending time with friends.
Changes in mood and personality. Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious, or getting upset easily when out of your routine.

What’s a normal part of aging?

Forgetting a name or an appointment but remembering it later, making an occasional error when managing finances, or needing help with a new device.

The difference is whether the memory lapses keep happening, get worse and affect daily life.

When should you see a doctor?

If you notice one or more of these signs in yourself or a loved one, make an appointment with your primary care doctor.

Getting checked early matters for several reasons:

Some causes of memory loss are treatable, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, medication side effects or depression.
An early diagnosis means more options: access to treatments that can help with symptoms, the chance to take part in clinical trials and more time to plan.
The family can get organized calmly, making medical, legal and financial decisions while the person can still take part.

Preparing for the appointment

Write down the changes you’ve noticed and when they started, bring a list of the medications you take and, if possible, bring a family member with you.

You have the right to ask for a medical interpreter so you can speak with the doctor in your language.

Caring for your brain: what is in our hands

There is no sure way to prevent Alzheimer’s, but taking care of your overall health can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

This year, the 2026 Facts and Figures report includes a special section on brain health, based on a survey of more than 3,800 adults age 40 and older.

The results show that we care, but we know little: 88% say keeping their brain healthy is very important, yet only 9% say they know a lot about how to do it.

According to the same report, only half sleep at least seven hours most nights, and just 34% are physically active every day or most days.

And although 86% would like to talk about brain health with their doctor, only 14% have done so.

The Alzheimer’s Association also highlights the results of the U.S. POINTER study: combining several healthy habits at once can help protect memory and thinking.

Some practical steps:

Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control.
Move every day: walking, dancing or Zumba all count.
Don’t smoke, and limit alcohol.
Sleep well and eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Keep your mind active and stay connected with family, friends and community.

At your next appointment, ask your doctor: “What can I do to take care of my brain?”

November: National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month

In November, the United States dedicates the month to two causes that go hand in hand: National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month.

Both remind us that behind almost every person with Alzheimer’s there is a family providing care.

Caregivers are at the heart of it

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 13 million family members and friends provided unpaid care last year to someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Together they provided more than 19 billion hours of care, work the report values at more than $446 billion.

They are often daughters, wives, grandchildren or neighbors who balance caregiving with work and raising children.

Caregiving takes a toll

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can bring exhaustion, stress, isolation and health problems for the caregiver.

Asking for help is not abandoning your loved one: it is a way to care for them better and for longer.

A program for caregivers in November

This month, the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP Massachusetts present Equipped for Care, a series of virtual talks open to the public for family caregivers:

Date	Time	Topic
Wednesday, November 4	1:00 p.m.	Caregiving with a Cultural Lens
Thursday, November 5	1:00 p.m.	Free Tools to Plan Your Health Care
Tuesday, November 10	1:00 p.m.	Simplify Caregiving with Technology
Wednesday, November 11	6:00 p.m.	Building Foundations of Caregiving
Tuesday, November 17	6:00 p.m.	Communicating Effectively and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors
Wednesday, November 18	6:00 p.m.	The Financial Impact of Dementia: Steps to Building Financial Literacy
Tuesday, November 24	12:00 p.m.	Exploring Care and Support Services

Registration and the full schedule are on the chapter’s Family Caregiver Month page.

A Spanish-language gathering for Latino caregivers in Lawrence

On Saturday, November 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Lawrence Senior Center/El Centro (155 Haverhill Street, Lawrence) will host the Latino Caregivers Event.

It is organized by AgeSpan, The Center, the City of Lawrence, the Mayor’s Health Task Force and the Alzheimer’s Association.

This year’s theme is “When the pressure becomes too much: how to care for ourselves while we care for others.”

Participants will learn to recognize the signs of stress, take a pause and practice simple ways to care for themselves.

There will be chair yoga, a nutrition segment and resources for families, and breakfast and lunch will be served.

The event is designed for caregivers but open to the whole community, and there is no cost to attend.

For more information or to register, call Reyna Tejada at (978) 406-4599.

What you can do this November

Talk about it as a family: who would care for Mom or Dad if they needed it? What would they want?
Share the 10 signs with your loved ones.
Ask your doctor how to take care of your brain at your next appointment.
If you know someone who is a caregiver, offer concrete help: a meal, an afternoon off or a ride to an appointment.
If you are a caregiver, sign up for one of the Equipped for Care talks or call the Helpline.

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s, you are not alone

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s is physically and emotionally demanding. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the Alzheimer’s Association offers:

24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900. Available every day of the year, with bilingual staff or a translation service in more than 200 languages, including Spanish.
Support groups in person and an online community for caregivers and people living with the disease.
Education programs, live and virtual, to understand the disease and prepare for each stage.
Spanish-language information in the chapter’s “Estamos para ayudarlo” section and on the Get help in Spanish page.

And remember: caregivers need care too.

Sleep, eat well, take time for yourself and accept the help that is offered.

This November, let’s stand together for our elders, for those who care for them and for a future without Alzheimer’s. Visit the Alzheimer’s Association table at myhealthfair.com.

Share this article with someone who needs it. Find more health resources at myhealthfair.com.