Happy February! In this newsletter you'll learn about:

• The 2026 Bell County Alzheimer's EXPO
• Dementia Stages
• Special Guest Dr. Chitra Hamilton and the 4Ms of Geriatrics
• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's & Dementia
• Caring for Someone with Mid-Stage Alzheimer's: A 3-Part Series
• Enrichment Club Day Program

Wednesday, March 4

10am - 2:30pm

FREE, with lunch provided

@ CTCOG in Belton

We are thrilled to be a co-presenter of the first annual Bell County Alzheimer’s Expo! This fantastic event includes relevant, by-invitation-only vendors; a series of informative breakout sessions; one-on-one consultation stations for confidential visits on legal, financial, clinical, and support issues; interactive demonstrations; and a caregiver panel discussion during lunch. Lots of information, resources and networking opportunities for everyone! In addition to be being a co-presenter, Hailey will be offering a session about Dementia Care Options! The event is free to all attendees. To see the agenda and learn more, visit the 2026 Bell County Alzheimer's Expo event page. 

Dementia Stages

Like many progressive diseases, dementia can be described using stages. Staging is based on a person's ability to remember, complete tasks, follow directions, and their need for help. There are many tools and assessments that can be used to guide staging, but there isn't one that is the "industry standard."

Staging assessments go through rigorous evaluation and testing before becoming widely accepted and used. They are designed to be administered by trained clinicians to ensure the assessment is given correctly and the results are tallied accurately. The Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) are commonly used to identify a person's level of decline on a scale of 1-7. To simplify things, we often use broader categories to describe stages as early/mild, middle/moderate, and late/advanced.

Early/Mild Stage

• May have difficulty coming up with the right word or remember names of new people
• May misplace things or be unable to remember where things are
• May have difficulty handling money
• May ask repeated questions
• May have trouble traveling to new locations
• May struggle with planning or organizing
• May have difficulty safely operating a vehicle
• Others may start to notice that things seem "off"

Middle/Moderate Stage

• May forget recent or past events, key information such as phone number or address
• May be confused about where they are or what day it is
• May be moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations
• May need help picking out clothing or dressing
• May have impaired judgement or poor decision-making regarding self-care and safety
• May experience incontinence, sleep difficulties, or wandering
• May need help organizing and completing hygiene tasks
• May exhibit personality or behavioral changes

Late/Advanced Stage

• May be unaware of recent experiences and surroundings
• May have difficulty walking, sitting, swallowing, or with facial expression
• May have limited speech abilities
• May be more vulnerable to infection
• May be totally dependent on others for hygiene and personal care

There are some important things to keep in mind with staging. First, it's unlikely a person will fit squarely into a single category or stage. Secondly, we must look at a variety of indicators over a period of two weeks or so. We all have good days and bad days, so we need to make our best effort of considering trends rather than specific points in time. Lastly, keep in mind that staging isn't a diagnosis. If you read a staging scale and see that someone who isn't diagnosed with dementia seems to have a lot of dementia traits, it's time to get a medical professional involved.

Special events and classes are FREE!
Please click on the event image to register.