MEMORY CARE PROGRAMS – WAGING WAR ON DEMENTIA
While forgetfulness and episodes of memory loss may simply be a part of the aging process, you shouldn’t take these symptoms lightly since they may indicate a more serious problem – Dementia. Every year 50 Million people world-wide suffer from a form of Dementia. And the numbers are set to grow even larger as the baby boomers continue to age. Yet for loved ones and those facing memory issues that seem to harken Dementia, the disease can be both scary and unknown. But for many, memory care programs such as those of Dogwood Forest, can mean peace, understanding and safety in knowing having Dementia does not mean a life no longer lived. Here are a few Dementia Facts to help you understand the 5 Types of Dementia and how they affect you.
Understanding Dementia
Dementia refers to a range of medical conditions that causes memory loss and the severe impairment of a person’s mental abilities. Unfortunately, a person with dementia doesn’t only experience a decline in cognitive skills. They also experience difficulty completing normal, everyday tasks, frequent mood swings, listlessness, confusion, and depression.
At first, people with dementia will show subtle signs like forgetfulness, losing track of time, and getting lost in familiar places. The signs will eventually get more serious as the condition progresses.
What Causes Dementia?
There are several factors that may increase a person’s risk, including:
- age (although it is not an inevitable consequence of aging)
- genetics
- medical conditions (such as hypertension, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, Down’s syndrome, and sleep apnea)
- unhealthy eating habits and nutritional deficiencies
- sedentary lifestyle
- smoking and heavy alcohol use
Dementia is more common than you think. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 50 million people around the world suffering from this condition and the number is expected to reach 82 million in 2030.
“BY THE YEAR 2030 THE WORLD NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IS EXPECTED TO REACH 80 MILLION.”
The World Health Organization
Types of Dementia
There are five main types of dementia, namely:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that irreversibly damages a person’s memory, behavior, and thinking skills up to the point where the patient is unable to perform even the simplest daily tasks on their own. This is the most common type of dementia and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country today.
While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease at present, there are available treatments that can help delay the worsening of the symptoms and improve the quality of life of people living with this condition.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia accounts for nearly 15% to 20% of all dementia cases and is considered as the second most common cause of dementia. This condition occurs when part of the brain fails to get enough oxygen and nutrients like what happens when the blood vessels to the brain become blocked or narrowed. Thus, this type of dementia is more common in people who suffered multiple minor or silent strokes.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
This type of dementia progresses over time and is usually diagnosed when the affected individual starts showing symptoms of cognitive decline. While some symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, this type of dementia has some unique symptoms which include fluctuating alertness or attention throughout the day, abnormal sleep behaviors, visual hallucinations, and delusions.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
This is a group of brain disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, the areas associated with personality, behavior, and language. People with this condition may show varying symptoms, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Some may exhibit memory loss, difficulty speaking, and language problems while others may have dramatic personality changes, become impulsive, or socially inappropriate.
Mixed Dementia
Unfortunate as it sounds, it is possible to have two types of dementia. When this happens, this is referred to as mixed dementia.
Knowing that your elderly loved one has dementia can be heart-breaking. Most people will probably feel a range of emotions when they first hear about the news and be overwhelmed with all the decisions they have to make but rest assured that it is not yet the end of the road. There is something you can do to make life easier for your elderly loved ones as they go through this ordeal.
Memory Care Programs and the Fight Against Dementia
At Dogwood Forest, we believe that a better living environment leads to a better memory. We designed our Memory Care Programs so your loved ones can live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life despite their condition.
By using safe and effective non-drug therapies, physical wellness, social, and spiritual programs, and providing a secure, comfortable, and home-like environment, we can help delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease by an average of six years.
For more information and to learn more about our services, Contact Us or call us at (404)996-1013 today.