Your mom suddenly gets lost driving back from her neighborhood grocery store. Your dad can’t figure out which tool to use to fix that squeaky door. You discover that your parents’ bills have not been paid for months. When you ask them about it, they act defensive, nervous, or even get angry. What is happening to them? We will share with you everything you need to know about dementia. Dementia Is Not A Disease Contrary to what many people believe, dementia is NOT a disease. Dementia encompasses a wide group of symptoms where the patient develops a progressive loss of cognitive functions, especially memory, which ultimately affects their daily activities. It also affects their behaviour, communication, and relationships. A patient can develop dementia slowly over time, so the symptoms are not always that noticeable. Dementia or mental decline is NOT a common result of aging. In fact, early onset dementia…

The terms dementia and Alzheimer’s are used interchangeably by many, but they do not mean the same thing. It’s confusing because the symptoms of both many times overlap. It is important to understand the differences between the two in order to manage this special area of senior care and treat both effectively. The most important difference is that dementia is a syndrome or a set of symptoms, whereas Alzheimer’s is a disease. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s take a look at what these two senior care conditions are and how they are different. Dementia Dementia is actually a syndrome or a set of symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by other issues or some specific disease. There are in fact 10 different types of dementia, a common one being vascular dementia. In this particular type of dementia changes in the brain are caused by a…

Alzheimer’s and dementia result in significant impacts on the quality of life of patients and their families. They create challenges related to personal care, relationships, and safety. Although there is no cure for these conditions, there are many health factors that can reduce the risk of developing these and other cognitive issues. Nutrition is a major factor in Alzheimer’s home care and in protecting you and your loved ones from cognitive health problems that may develop as you age. The following are 9 foods that help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. Green Leafy VegetablesThese foods include spinach, mustard greens, and kale, among others. They can improve cognitive function by providing high levels of vitamin B9 and folate. Kale has anti-inflammatory flavonoids that support brain health.Dementia home care should include a healthy amount of these vegetables in order to support cognitive wellness. LegumesLike leafy greens, legumes and beans are high in folate.…

A person with dementia can experience a series of personality changes. Depending on the type of dementia, these changes include a lack of empathy. This can mean not understanding people’s feelings as well as sharing in those feelings. It is a hallmark in those with behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) but it can also occur in those with younger onset dementia. If you are a caregiver of a parent with dementia, this change can be particularly jarring. It can also put you in embarrassing situations in public when your loved one acts out of character. Moreover, it can cause a lot of tension in relationships — especially in parent-child relationships. However, there are ways to diffuse this situation. How To Handle A Lack Of Empathy In Dementia Patients: To date, there is not a lot of research on how to deal with a lack of empathy in dementia patients. Conversely, there…

It is important to recognize that sleep problems are very common in those with dementia. This is not abnormal. Unfortunately, however, sleep problems in those with dementia can further aggravate their mental state, which in turn, burdens their caregivers. While it may take some effort to alter the sleep patterns of those with dementia, the good news is that it is possible. What Causes Sleep Problems In Those with Dementia? The contributing factors of sleep problems in those with dementia are considered “multifactorial,” meaning that there may be several underlying causes. In the case of dementia, this could include brain deterioration, which causes individuals to experience less deep sleep and spend more time awake. Those with dementia can also experience problems when it comes to their body regulating their circadian rhythm; some types of dementia are also associated with REM sleep behaviour disorder. Moreover, those with dementia are also more…