If you are a senior citizen, you likely remember a time when epilepsy was a greatly misunderstood disease. People who had epilepsy might be referred to as having "fits" and if they had a seizure in public, they might be subjected to someone putting an object into their mouth to avoid having them swallow their tongue. Families sometimes relegated members with epilepsy to being cloistered at home, or sent off to live in an institution, and some believed that epilepsy was a mental illness.

Especially during November, which is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, The Epilepsy Foundation is striving to let everyone know how these perceptions have changed. Perceptions of who gets epilepsy have changed, too. Once considered by some as a disease with childhood onset, it actually affects more than 300,000 senior citizens in America.

Most seniors with seizures or epilepsy can continue to live independently. A few simple changes, such as living on a first level with no stairs, carpeting the floors, or padding corners of tables, can improve the safety of someone who may experience periods when they are not in control of their faculties. It's safer to use a microwave than a stove, wear permanent press clothes to avoid having to iron, and not fill the bathtub level very high, according to the Foundation. There are more hints on how to stay safe at the foundation's Web site: epilepsyfoundation.org.

There are many types of seizures. Symptoms can range from a blank stare, which most people might not recognize as epilepsy, to convulsions. A medical emergency, called "status epilepticus" occurs when a person has had convulsive activity for more than five minutes with no sign of stopping. Anyone witnessing such an event should summon emergency assistance for the person by calling 911. Most uncomplicated seizures are not medical emergencies, however, and the person continues his or her normal activities after resting a short while.

The Epilepsy Foundation suggests the following first aid steps if you witness someone having a seizure:

Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby.

Don't hold the person down or try to stop his movements.

Time the seizure with your watch.

Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.

Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult.

Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head.

Turn him or her gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear.

Do not try to force the mouth open with any hard implement or with fingers. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his tongue. Efforts to hold the tongue down can injure teeth or jaw.

Don't attempt artificial respiration except in the unlikely event that a person does not start breathing again after the seizure has stopped.

Stay with the person until the seizure ends naturally.

Be friendly and reassuring as consciousness returns.

Offer to call a taxi, friend or relative to help the person get home if he seems confused or unable to get home by himself.

Persons with epilepsy should wear medical identification bracelets or carry wallet cards, since, during or after a seizure, they may not be able to respond properly to emergency personnel. Police and other first responders have other considerations they must take into account, but they should be aware how to respond to someone who has epilepsy. More information on that can be found here: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/professionals/emergency/takeanotherlook/tal_responding.cfm.

Massachusetts residents can download an epilepsy resource guide for this area here: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/massri/links.cfm or call the Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island at 888-576-9996.

Anne Springer is the public relations director of SeniorCare Inc., your local Area Agency on Aging. To reach SeniorCare, call 978-281-1750.