Memory screens available locally

Have you ever had a memory screen? Prairie Five received a dementia grant from the Minnesota Board on Aging with the purpose of bringing awareness of what memory loss is and what resources are available, connecting with caregivers, providing education opportunities, increasing awareness of the value of a memory screen and offering Community-Based Memory Screens. 
I was shocked when I learned that 45% of people with dementia never had one and were never informed of their diagnosis by their provider! (This is according to the Alzheimer’s Association.)
So, what is a Community-Based Memory Screen? Most people “know their numbers” like blood pressure and weight and have them screened annually. But for many, the same can’t be said for familiarity with getting screened for memory loss.  
It is not a diagnosis. If you are at health fair, you may have your blood pressure taken but the nurse doesn’t say, “Oh no, you have hypertension! Let’s get you on some lisinopril!” Instead, it’s a chance to gather information and discuss next steps for you to consider. 
A Community-Based Memory Screen is given by a trained individual (at Prairie Five that’s me) at a location that is convenient for you. The memory screen itself takes less than 10 minutes. 
We can then talk through the results, which are confidential and given to you to keep. The results are on a sheet which also some recommendations for what you could do next with the information, as well as related resources at Prairie Five and in our area. 
It’s normal to have concerns that maybe your cognition isn’t what it used to be but to put it off because it could mean some changes. The unknown is scary. I would encourage you to consider taking advantage of this opportunity; early detection gives you far more control over what comes next and helps avoid possible crisis situations.  
Many curable or reversible conditions like infections, adverse medication interactions, nutritional deficiencies, sleep apnea, or depression can mimic memory loss symptoms. Once that issue is addressed, not only does your quality of life improve but the symptoms usually resolve. 
You may be thinking, “Well, I’m not worried so why should I bother?” Community-Based Memory Screens produce a valuable piece of data to have integrated into your medical records. This allows you to monitor your memory and cognition over time. 40% of the risk factors for memory are modifiable! 
Small lifestyle changes (as small as moving from red meat every day down to 2-3 meals a week) can make a huge impact.
Just like you may write down an online game score the first time you play it so in a month you can look back and compare how you’ve improved, a baseline memory screen measure allows you to see your brain health progress. 
If you are curious, have questions, would like to learn more about Caregiver or Memory Loss resources in our area or would like to get a Community-Based Memory Screen scheduled, you can email me at laura.thomas@prairiefive.org or call 320-226-8861. Prairie Five serves residents of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties. 
If you live outside this area, the state-funded Minnesota Aging Pathways at 800-333-2433 can get you connected to resources for where you live. We are grateful to the Southwest Initiative Foundation and the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging for additional grant funding which allows Prairie Five to provide these valuable services!