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It does require extra patience when you are dealing with elderly people who have dementia. Not only can you be patient, you also shouldn’t take it for granted.
To be more effective, let’s learn more about dementia and its symptoms too. Check out the following review!
What is dementia?
Reported by the Mayo Clinic, dementia describes a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities which are quite disruptive to daily life. It is not a specific disease, but several different diseases can cause dementia.
Although dementia generally involves memory loss, this disease is a memory loss that has different causes. Memory loss alone doesn’t mean you have dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia in older adults, but there are several causes of dementia. Depending on the cause, some symptoms of dementia may be reversible.
Dementia symptoms
The Mayo Clinic explains that symptoms of dementia vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
1. Cognitive changes
- Memory loss, which is usually noticed by the partner or other people
- Difficulty communicating or finding words
- Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
- Difficulty reasoning or problem solving
- Difficulty handling complex tasks
- Difficulty in planning and organizing
- Difficulty with coordination and motor function
- Confusion and disorientation
2. Perubahan psikologis
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inappropriate behavior
- Paranoid
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Causes of dementia
Dementia is caused by damage or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Depending on the area of the brain affected by the damage, dementia can affect people in different ways and cause different symptoms.
Tips for caring for dementia patients
When you are caring for parents or someone close to you who has dementia, before caring for them, it is highly recommended that you really understand what this disease is like.
Educating yourself about dementia and maintaining a positive but realistic attitude can make it easier for you to relate to dementia patients.
Here are some important facts to consider when approaching your role in caring for someone with dementia as reported by Alzheimers.net:
1. Actively empathize
Treatment begins with compassion and empathy. This is true in all human relationships but may be especially important for dementia caregivers. For example, people with dementia tend to become confused about their whereabouts and even the time period in which they live.
The first thing you can do is imagine how you would feel and how you would want to be treated if you yourself experienced something like that.
2. Be a realistic caregiver
Be realistic about what makes people with dementia feel comfortable, happy, and safe. Most experienced dementia caregivers will tell you that the person they care for has good days and bad days.
Try your best to develop beautiful days and even beautiful moments for people with dementia, don’t try to force it. Apart from that, be realistic about the course of the disease.
Remember that most types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, are irreversible and progressive. Dementia tends to get worse over time, and currently there is no cure.
3. Dementia is more than just memory loss
Memory loss is a classic symptom of dementia. But some types of dementia, especially frontotemporal dementia and the disease manifest themselves as personality changes rather than memory loss.
Symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected by the disease. Even when memory loss is the most obvious symptom, people with dementia experience neurological decline that can lead to a number of other problems.
In the later stages of most types of dementia, patients become unable to perform daily activities (such as dressing and toileting) independently. They may become uncommunicative, unable to recognize loved ones and even unable to move.
This is information about dementia and tips for caring for dementia patients appropriately. Don’t hesitate to consult an expert to get more complete information, OK!
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