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June is Brain Awareness Month, a time to better understand the brain’s role in how we think, move, communicate, remember, and respond to the world around us.

For many families, brain health becomes personal when a loved one begins experiencing changes in memory, balance, mood, speech, alertness, or daily routines. These changes can feel small at first. A missed medication. A fall. Confusion in the evening. A once-simple task that suddenly feels overwhelming.

However, brain health is not only about dementia or memory loss. It can also be affected by stroke, Parkinson’s disease, chronic illness, medication changes, pain, poor sleep, infection, dehydration, or the progression of a serious condition. The National Institute on Aging defines cognitive health as the ability to think, learn, and remember clearly, and notes that physical health, sleep, activity, nutrition, and social connection can all play a role in supporting cognitive well-being.  

For patients and caregivers, noticing changes early can help families make the home safer, communicate more clearly with the care team, and get the right level of support in place.

Brain health affects more than memory. It can influence how someone walks, eats, sleeps, takes medication, responds to pain, recognizes danger, and communicates their needs.

When brain health changes, families may notice:

• • • Increased confusion or forgetfulness
    • Trouble following conversations
    • Changes in mood, personality, or behavior
    • Difficulty managing medications
    • Increased falls or balance concerns
    • Trouble sleeping or staying awake during the day
    • New challenges with bathing, dressing, eating, or moving around the home
    • Withdrawal from activities or social connections

These changes can be especially difficult for caregivers because they may happen gradually. A loved one may still seem like themselves in many ways, yet need more support than before.

The CDC notes that chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can affect the brain, and that managing physical health can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.   This is one reason whole-person care matters. The brain does not work separately from the rest of the body. Like a very important orchestra conductor, it depends on many sections playing together.

When a loved one is experiencing cognitive or neurological changes, the home environment may need to change with them.

A person who once moved confidently through the house may begin to misjudge steps, forget to use a walker, leave items in walkways, or become disoriented in low lighting. Someone who is managing multiple medications may have trouble remembering what they took and when. A caregiver may notice that their loved one is more alert in the morning but more confused later in the day.

For families receiving hospice, home health, or palliative care, the care team can help identify safety concerns, explain what changes may mean, and recommend practical next steps.

Different types of care may support brain health and neurological changes in different ways.

Hospice

Hospice care can provide comfort-focused support for patients with advanced Alzheimer’s disease or dementia when the illness has progressed, and the goals of care have shifted away from curative treatment. In this stage, families may be facing difficult changes such as increased weakness, frequent infections, trouble swallowing, weight loss, reduced communication, repeated falls, or more time spent sleeping. Hospice can help manage pain and symptoms, provide nursing visits, offer emotional and spiritual support, educate caregivers, and guide families through what to expect near the end of life. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that hospice care is generally for individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less, as determined by a physician. For families, hospice can bring an added layer of support during a tender and often overwhelming time.

Palliative Care

Palliative care can help patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia at many stages of the illness, not only at the end of life. Because dementia affects the whole person, palliative care can help manage symptoms such as pain, anxiety, agitation, sleep changes, appetite changes, constipation, fatigue, and caregiver stress. It can also help families talk through goals of care, understand what to expect as the disease progresses, and make decisions that reflect the patient’s comfort, dignity, and values. This support can be especially meaningful when families are trying to balance safety, independence, medical treatment, and quality of life. Palliative care is designed to support both the person living with dementia and the family members caring for them.

Home Health

Home health care can support patients with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia when there is a skilled need, and the patient qualifies for care at home. This may include nursing support, medication education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and safety guidance to help patients remain as comfortable and independent as possible in their familiar environment. For example, a home health team may help after a fall, hospitalization, a medication change, an infection, or a noticeable decline in strength, balance, swallowing, or daily functioning. Home health can also help caregivers better understand routines, safety risks, mobility concerns, and changes to watch for. Medicare notes that covered home health services may include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, therapy services, and home health aide support when eligibility requirements are met.

Supporting the Caregiver, Too

Changes in brain health can be emotionally heavy for caregivers. It can be painful to watch someone you love become more confused, less steady, or less able to communicate their needs.

Caregivers may find themselves asking:

“Is this normal?”
“Should I be worried?”
“Do they need more help?”
“Am I doing enough?”

Those questions deserve support.

The Alzheimer’s Association encourages healthy habits such as regular movement, balanced nutrition, social connection, managing blood pressure, protecting the head, and getting quality sleep to support brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.   While not every change in brain health can be prevented or reversed, families can still take meaningful steps to improve safety, comfort, and quality of life.

Care teams can also help caregivers understand what they are seeing, what to monitor, and when a change may need medical attention.

Families should consider reaching out to a healthcare provider or care team if they notice sudden or worsening changes in:

• • • Confusion or alertness
    • Speech or communication
    • Balance, walking, or falls
    • Medication management
    • Eating, drinking, or swallowing
    • Sleep patterns
    • Mood, agitation, or withdrawal
    • Ability to complete daily activities

Sudden confusion, facial drooping, weakness on one side of the body, severe headache, trouble speaking, chest pain, or difficulty breathing may be signs of a medical emergency and should be addressed immediately.

For ongoing changes, a care conversation can help families understand whether hospice, home health, or palliative care may be appropriate.

Brain Awareness Month is not just about knowing more. It is about noticing more.

Noticing when routines are becoming harder.
Noticing when a caregiver is overwhelmed.
Noticing when safety concerns are increasing.
Noticing when comfort, dignity, and quality of life need more support.

At Solaris, we believe care should support the whole person: body, mind, spirit, and family. Whether a patient is recovering from a health event, living with a serious illness, or experiencing advanced decline, our team is here to help families navigate the next step with compassion and clarity.

If your loved one’s needs are changing, Solaris can help you understand what kind of care may be right for your family.

To learn more about Solaris Healthcare services, call 888-376-5274 or visit solarisfamily.com.