Senior Living News

For caregivers at home or in an assisted living community, it's important to know how to handle a resident to allow them as much autonomy as possible to live in a dignified way. At Bethesda Gardens Loveland, our staff is equipped to assist residents through all the levels of dementia. Even so, a few facts about dementia might give you some insight into what to expect from those with the disease.

1. Dementia Is an Umbrella Term

While dementia is often used to describe memory decline, it's actually an umbrella term for several diseases that affect more than just the memory. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which is responsible for memory loss and a decline in other cognitive functions. Another common form of dementia is vascular dementia, which may affect judgment and reasoning. In time, it may also affect memory.

2. Behavioral Changes

Cognitive function is one of the things most affected by dementia and can cause anxiety, confusion and fear in those going through it. This can lead to mood changes and even depression. When this happens, it's important that loved ones and caregivers provide support and understanding to allow them to work through the changes in a safe environment.

3. Need Assistance With Personal Care

Those with dementia may lose the ability to perform everyday functions such as bathing, grooming and even eating. While at first it might seem possible to assist with personal care at home, the more the condition progresses, the harder it becomes to provide the assistance in an environment that's not set up for it.

It may also require more than one person to assist with personal care. In these instances, assisted living communities that have a memory care wing may be a better fit, as trained staff are available to assist with these everyday needs.

4. Dementia Is Progressive

While there are many treatments and trials underway to try to reverse the ravages of dementia, the disease is progressive in nature. However, the speed of the decline differs from person to person. There are generally three stages of dementia: mild, moderate and severe. Mild dementia means only a small portion of the brain is damaged. As the disease progresses, more areas of the brain become affected.

According to a study by Dementia Care Central, the progression of dementia can be slowed down or prevented. This is because a healthier lifestyle encourages more connections between brain cells. These lifestyle changes include:

• Healthy diet. A diet that's naturally good for the heart also happens to be good for the brain. Include foods such as poultry, fish, nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
• Regular exercise. Exercise allows an increased flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. This keeps the brain healthy and allows proper connection between the brain cells. This same study shows that seniors with dementia who exercise have better cognitive scores than seniors with dementia who aren't active.
• Improve cardiovascular health. Those with a healthy cardiovascular system are less likely to develop dementia. This includes not smoking, reducing stress levels, having a healthy body mass index (BMI) and ensuring blood glucose levels are normal.
• Mental exercise. Brain exercises are a great way to slow down or prevent cognitive decline. These can include puzzles, solving logical problems, learning a new language or practicing a musical instrument.
• Protecting brain health. Physical injury to the brain can cause mental decline. While some injuries are hard to prevent, it's important to protect your head when you participate in sports such as contact sports.
• Social interactions. Regular contact with loved ones and even strangers can slow down cognitive decline. This includes family gatherings, social clubs and group activities, such as aerobics classes and sewing circles.

5. Added Layers of Safety and Security

One of the most important aspects of helping a loved one with dementia is to keep them safe. This includes security measures such as:

• A secure environment. In the late stages of dementia, you may find your loved one starting to wander. This can be dangerous if they get into an unsafe environment or out on the street. They may not be able to find their way back to their room or home.
• Nonslip floors and walkways. Physical deterioration starts happening and progresses over time, which can affect your loved one's mobility. Ensure floors and walkways are nonslip and that someone can assist your loved one up and down stairs.

Safe bedrooms and bathrooms: Consider removing anything that may cause your loved one to trip and fall. If they have limited mobility or can't help themselves perform self-care anymore, consider restricting access to unsafe places, such as bathrooms and kitchens. This may require a full-time caregiver to allow your loved one as much dignity and autonomy as possible.