Tifani Hodges said she did not know about the Alzheimer’s Association when her father-in-law was diagnosed 14 years ago. After learning about the support they provide, she decided to become an educator.

This September, Hodges is bringing her expertise to a class at Salem Hospital, sharing the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s, how to recognize them and what to do if you suspect a loved one shows signs of dementia.

The warning signs

The warning signs can include everything from difficulty completing familiar tasks to misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

Hodges said on its own, one of the symptoms might not mean anything. However, when there is a combination of multiple behaviors covered in the class, that could be a concern.

Normal aging vs. dementia

Alise Liepnieks is a program manager with the Alzheimer’s Association. She said the class also looks at normal signs of aging and memory loss compared with dementia.

“What’s not normal is forgetting really ingrained information: your daughter’s name, where you were born, where you went to high school,” Liepnieks said.

Next steps

After the class, educators recommend people keep a notebook to jot down warning signs along with information such as whether issues are happening at a certain time of day. That’s the kind of information a primary care provider will be looking for.

If people detect a pattern, Hodges recommends referring back to a primary care provider to see if a diagnosis is needed. From there, a patient could be referred to a specialist, such as a neurologist.

The educator also provides resources, such as phone numbers to call and available support groups. Attendees often leave the class relieved, Hodges said.

“For those people who are questioning, [it’s helpful] for them to get the validation that this is occurring,” she said.

How to sign up

This class will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Community Health Education Center, in the Salem Hospital Building D Classroom 1.