In order to care for someone who struggles with dementia, it helps to know what it is. The word "dementia" means "deprived of mind." It's a catchall term that covers memory loss, confusion, changes in personality, a decline in thinking skills, and dwindling ability to perform everyday activities.
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04. MEMORY CARE: DEALING WITH DEMENTIA WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
1. UNDERSTANDING MEMORY
LOSS
Caregiving for someone who struggles with
memory loss can be especially challenging. Help
yourself by learning about what to expect if mild
cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s
disease strikes. Click on “Play Audio” to start.
2. MILD COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENT
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) means a person
has more than the usual minor cognitive decline
that comes with aging. Click on “Play Audio” to learn
more.
3. TYPES OF MCI
Up to 20% of adults older than 65 have mild
cognitive impairment, according to the Alzheimer's
Association. Click on “Play Audio” to learn about the
two types of MCI.
4. DEMENTIA EXPLAINED
Dementia isn’t a specific disease. Rather, it’s a
syndrome caused by one or more disorders
affecting the brain. Most common symptom:
memory loss, although people also can get tripped
up by language and can have difficulty solving
problems. They also may undergo personality and
behavior changes. And they can struggle with
activities of daily living, like dressing and eating.
5. THE EFFECTS OF DEMENTIA
What can you expect if your loved one has
dementia? Click on “Play Audio” to learn about what
may lie ahead and how to deal with it.
6. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
More than 60% of dementia cases, as noted
earlier, are caused by Alzheimer's disease. If your
loved one is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease,
you’ve likely already noticed symptoms. Click Play
Audio to learn about what to expect.
7. VASCULAR DEMENTIA
With this form of dementia, memory problems
result from blockages caused by the buildup of
cholesterol plaque in the brain's blood vessels. The
blockages can cut off oxygen delivery to brain cells,
which kills them. Blockages in small blood vessels
can lead to a series of minor strokes. Symptoms of
vascular dementia are often ignored because they
mimic "senior moments.” Click "Play Audio."
