Every 70 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In Georgia alone, 199,000 mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers are battling the disease, according to the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

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On Saturday caregivers and family members who see the disease firsthand every day came together for the Alzheimer's Education Symposium at Fort Gordon in an effort to better understand it.

"We're so quick to point fingers at people with dementia when really they're doing the best they can," said Teepa Snow, a dementia care specialist with more than 28 years of experience in geriatrics. "What we haven't realized is they no longer process things the same way we do, and we're not willing to put on their eyes and realize how confusing the room is."

Some of the first things to go are sight, depth perception and the ability to do more than one task at a time, said Snow, who spoke at the conference. She then demonstrated how simple acts such as sitting and standing can be difficult.

Sarah Lawrence, a social worker from Alliance Hospice, attended the conference with co-workers. She said she has learned more about realistic expectations for her clients.

Kathy Tuckey, the regional programs and services director of the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., is co-sponsoring the National Alzheimer's Project Act. The act will address government efforts on research, care, institutional services and home- and community-based programs, she said.

Becky Waller, the resident director of Elmcroft of Augusta, talked about helping families decide when to seek outside help.

"The one thing people always say when they come in is that Mama never wanted to be in a nursing home," Waller said.

Nursing homes are not the only option, she explained. Others include adult day care, assisted living communities and home care.

"The biggest battle I had was deciding what to do with my mom," she said. She finally decided on a personal care home.

Important things to look for when considering options for an Alzheimer's patient include background checks for staff, staff qualifications, cleanliness of a facility, staffing ratios, toilet and hydration schedules and state inspection results.