Alzheimer's Disease is more prevalent than you may realize. People you know could have it. Neither you nor they may even suspect that they have the disease. One of them may be a close friend or a member of your family. With around half a million new cases annually in America alone, there are essential steps that must be taken to protect oneself from the financial, physical and emotional devaststion caused by this disease.

These steps are especially important because those who are afflicted with the disease do not suffer on their own -- every member of the family suffers with them. Alzheimer's can devastate the entire family financially, psychologically, physically and emotionally.

There is, as yet, no traditional medical cure available but there are effective strategies you can utilize to successfully manage the disease and side-step the adeverse effects on your family:

• As soon as Alzheimer's Disease is suspected -- or diagnosed -- you need to put a plan of action in place that will keep you moving forward instead of despairing and feeling helpless. Once you have a step-by-step guide, you will be able to perform the duty of an Alzheimer's caregiver with ease. For instance, you need to take legal steps to safeguard your assets in the process of caring for a family member with Alzheimer's.

• You need to know how to communicate properly with your loved one and not resort to unnecessary emotional outbursts; also whether you should give home care or admit your loved one to a nursing home and how to pay for it without going broke.

• Educate yourself properly about Alzheimer's Disease, the key aspects of caregiving and the options that are open to you. Looking all mover the Internet is the wrong way to get educated. You need to be properly informed about Alzheimer's caregiving. There is a network of experts trained in all aspects of caregiving. They have described in simple terms all the correct things you should be doing for your patient and yourself every step of the way.

• Not taking meaningful action is the worst thing you can do because once the disease is formally diagnosed it will be already at an advanced stage and may be progressing rapidly.

• You can safeguard your physical, emotional and psychological health as your loved one's condition progresses. This method has been used successfully by many Alzheimer's caregivers to overcome the harsh reality of Alzheimer's in the family and even find the hidden blessing behind it.

The key to successfully manage Alzheimer's in your family is to accept things about the disease that you cannot change but DO manage the parts of Alzheimer's caregiving that you CAN control.