Dementia
Learn About Demetia, What is Dementia
Dementia is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in problems with memory, thinking and behavior and becomes severe enough to interfere with a person’s ability to work and to take care of everyday tasks such as bathing, cooking, dressing and grooming. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
What are the symptoms of Dementia?
The symptoms of dementia include:
- Trouble learning new things
- Trouble remembering things that were known in the past
- Trouble with abstract thinking
- Poor judgment
- Trouble speaking well
- Trouble carrying out motor tasks
- Trouble recognizing or naming objects
- Personality change
- Trouble being able to work or carry on a normal social life.
- Sometimes people with dementia also develop anxiety, depression, suspiciousness, assaultiveness, agitation, wandering, confusion, or verbal abuse
What causes Dementia?
Dementia always has a physical cause. The most common dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, is caused by changes in the structure of the brain that may develop because of genetic inheritance, a chemical imbalance, a viral infection, environmental toxins, or for other reasons. Research is being carried out to learn more about its cause, prevention and treatment. Another common dementia is Vascular Dementia, which is caused by blood vessel disease or small strokes in the brain. Still other dementias are caused by AIDS, metabolic disease, diseases of the brain, lack of oxygen or sugar to the brain, or a buildup of pressure in the brain.
What happens to people who have Dementia?
Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common dementia, develops slowly and gradually becomes more severe over a period of several years. Vascular Dementia also becomes gradually more severe, although it may begin more suddenly and there may be longer stable periods than there are in Alzheimer’s Disease. With other dementias, the way the symptoms develop depends on the cause. Dementia can occur at any age, but is more common after age 65.
What is the treatment for Dementia?
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease or Vascular Dementia, but many of the symptoms can be treated or managed so the patient can remain comfortable and function independently for as long as possible. Good medical care is very important so the patient’s general health can be maintained. Medicines can also be prescribed when they are needed for agitation, anxiety, depression, impulsive behaviors, or insomnia.
What can I do to help?
Some of the things that can be done to help a person with dementia are:
- Stick to a regular daily routine. Make sure there are lots of familiar objects around to be seen and enjoyed.
- Check on the patient’s safety regularly. One method some families use to prevent wandering is to attach bells to all the doors that lead outside.
- Make sure the patient eats well and drinks plenty of liquids
- Help the patient stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.
- Provide for regular exercise and recreation.
- Keep in touch with friends and family.
- Use written memory aids such as large calendars and clocks, written lists of daily routines, reminders about safety measures, and name tags placed on important objects.
- See that the patient gets regular medical checkups.
- Plan ahead for future needs such as respite care or nursing home placement.
- Give lots of emotional support to the patient and all the caregivers.
- If medicines are prescribed, see that the patient takes them regularly.
- Join a support group of other people who care for people with dementia.
- Ask for help with money problems, legal problems, day-to-day advice, emotional issues, respite care or nursing home placement when they are needed.
- Check the home for safety features, such as bars on the wall near the toilet and bathtub, night lights in hallways and on the stairs, non-slip rugs, lowering the height of the bed to prevent falls, etc.
- Make sure all health care providers have a complete list of all the patient’s prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
- If incontinence is a problem, remind the patient to use the toilet every two hours.
- Enroll the patient in a dementia day program to provide stimulation for the patient and respite for the caregiver.