Alzheimer’s and Dementia - It Can Happen To Your Family
Discovering that a loved one is going through the first signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s can be devastating, but there are many resources you will find to make looking after that family member less difficult. Your family member might still want to be independent, and you’ll need to choose a place that offers what you need to help them thrive. Here are some important facts about Alzheimer’s to help you decide if you require other treatment.
Alzheimer’s and dementia are frequently linked together, since Alzheimer’s is the encompassing problem of lost memory, along with other indicators including depression or lack of attention, and on the other hand dementia is the general deterioration of someone’s mind. In the beginning of Alzheimer’s, you will note that someone will start to forget people’s names or frequently used words that are used during normal conversation. When this happens once or twice, you shouldn’t worry. But, if you note that your loved one is creating a made-up word to take the place of a word that’s slipped their mind, or if they’re becoming more and more withdrawn in order to avoid ‘messing up’ during conversation, you may be witness to the first signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Less motivation to finish certain tasks or some changes in personality can be another sign of Alzheimer’s and dementia. When a person is experiencing dementia, finishing normal things can be a challenge. This means tasks like making breakfast, tying shoes, and getting dressed in the morning get done less and less as the condition progresses. The brain slows down, and neurotransmitters do not do their job as often. If you notice that your parent or grandparent now puts things in strange places around the home, such as putting a flashlight in between sofa cushions, or find a comb in the dishwasher, this could be a sign that it’s time to meet with the doctor.
During the more progressed stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, you’ll see that it’s difficult for your loved one to organize their thought processes, and it could be more difficult for your mom to recognize their family. Once you talk with your doctor, you can work out a treatment plan for your loved one to help to meet their needs. Typically that most patients last for approximately 10 years after the original diagnosis, but some even live twenty years after the disease has been detected.
If you want to know more about Alzheimer’s and dementia so that you can provide the right Alzheimer care, visit www.alz.org.
