COEUR d'ALENE - Knowing the difference between a "senior moment" and a serious condition such as dementia can make a world of difference.

But it must be talked about.

"Uncertainty is one of the scariest parts of this disease," said Wytychak Elder Law attorney Kate Monroe-Coyle.

Coyle was one of the speakers Saturday in the Community Room in the Silver Lake Mall during "Dementia Dialogues," a free, educational seminar.

The first session, "Knowing When to Seek Help" by Dr. Susan Melchiore, talked about diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's disease and understanding the symptoms as well as choosing health care providers. Monroe-Coyle's "Legal Matters Related to Dementia" lecture discussed how to prepare legal matters before the disease renders a patient incapable of making his or her own decisions with a sound mind.

"Once you have some sort of catastrophic illness or injury, that's not the best time to be trying to get these things in place," Monroe-Coyle said. "The earlier you do it, the better your situation might turn out.

About 70 people total attended the "Dementia Dialogue" sessions, which were presented by the Alzheimer's Association Inland Northwest Chapter.

"The symptoms of dementia are much more profound than normal aging," said Joel Loiacono, executive director. "Dementia takes away your ability to live independently."

He said one point of the "Dementia Dialogues" was to give families an idea on when to be concerned, and if they have concerns to express them to their healthcare professionals.

"A lot of families will say, 'I don't know what to ask because I don't know what the question is,'" he said. "People just don't know this. This is not something that we're used to dealing with on a daily basis."

Loiacono and Monroe-Coyle both stressed the importance of acting early rather than reacting later.

"If you procrastinate and you wait until the point where your loved one is no longer legally competent, and you don't have power of attorney, then you're going to potentially into a more expensive prospect with guardianship," Loiacono said.

"Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters," a free workshop also presented by the Alzheimer's Association, will be from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Post Falls American Legion Post 143, 1138 E. Poleline Avenue.

Info: www.alz.org