An estimated 580,000 Floridians are living with Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects nearly 11.2% of people aged 65 and older in Broward County. As the population gets older, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and the need for care is expected to rise.

As the first Joint Commission certified outpatient memory disorder center in the U.S., the Memory Disorder Center at Broward Health North is a leader in a wide range of customized care and support to meet the needs of patients and families living with dementia and has served the community for more than 38 years.

“Memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease have a profound impact on both our patients and their families,” said Hazel Wiley, D.O., medical director of the Memory Disorder Center at Broward Health North. “It is our goal to provide patients the best medical care available and to give caregivers much-needed education and support as they navigate the challenges and changes they face.”

Diagnosis and Assessment

While a potential diagnosis of dementia may feel overwhelming for patients and their loved ones, testing should be encouraged for anyone exhibiting signs of memory impairment, as early detection can provide access to treatments that may slow disease progression.

At Broward Health’s Memory Disorder Center, an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and social workers utilize comprehensive neurological exams and neurocognitive testing to determine the cause of memory impairments.

If a memory disorder is diagnosed, care teams provide compassionate and personalized care, developing individualized treatment plans, even facilitating appointments and connecting families with resources and caregiver assistance including education, training and support groups to help them address challenges and advocate for their loved ones.

Additionally, free assessments offered at the center include memory screenings and clinical driving assessments to determine if any cognitive or memory changes could impact safe driving.

Advanced Treatment

The Memory Disorder Center is committed to providing the latest treatments and optimizing medication management. Earlier this year, it introduced Lecanamab (Leqembi), an advanced, FDA approved treatment for qualified patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Infused on a biweekly basis, the medication targets the changes caused by Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Hopeful to advance Alzheimer’s care, Broward Health also participates in an open clinical trial using MRI-guided focused ultrasound in which treatment directs low-frequency ultrasound beams to open the blood-brain barrier with the goal of washing out amyloid plaques and, therefore, clearing out disease The system is also exploring the use of Donanemab (Kinsunla), an infused medicine that recently received FDA approval for early Alzheimer’s.

Caregiver Support

Caregivers play a vital role in the lives of people suffering from memory loss. Supporting them as they address the many challenges of daily life, personality changes and unusual behaviors that individuals with memory loss can exhibit is a key element of the center’s services.

The Memory Disorder Center offers Care Assistance Programs for spouses, siblings, relatives and friends caring for a loved one with dementia. Day and evening classes are scheduled, giving needed options for working caregivers.

Social Workers provide referrals for services like adult day care, and the center’s nurses and doctors can advise on strategies that may help prevent and slow the progression of memory loss.

For more information or to register for one of Broward Health North’s Care Assistance Programs, visit BrowardHealth.org/MemoryLoss or call (954) 786-7392. 

The Memory Disorder Center is a Joint Commission-certified Alzheimer’s disease program. The Joint Commission Gold Seal of approval validates that stringent national standards for care of Alzheimer’s patients are consistently met.