Early-Stage
"Early-stage" refers to people, irrespective of age, who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders and are in the beginning stages of the disease. In this stage, they retain the ability to participate in daily activities and in a give-and-take dialogue. This includes those persons with "younger-onset" that develop dementia under age 65 and are still in the early stages of the disease.
Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is life-changing and leads to many questions. What will this mean for me and my family? How do I plan for the future? Where can I get the help that my family and I will need? Individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementia and their loved ones cannot walk this journey alone. Early planning helps relieve stress and allows for a higher quality of life. The Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter and community partners periodically offer the Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis workshop for individuals and family with a suspected or confirmed dementia diagnosis and/or in the early stages of dementia. For more information about the next available workshop, call 800.272.3900 or use our event search.
Online community
ALZConnected® is a free online community for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s or another dementia, including people with the disease and their caregivers, friends, family members and neighbors, as well as those who have lost someone to the disease.
Additional Resources
The Association has additional early-stage resources available such as their Live Well with Dementia action planning tool. View more resources.