Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Questions to Ask When Interviewing a San Diego Dementia Care Facility

In the Process of interviewing a San Diego Dementia Care Facility? This comprehensive guide will arm you with the right questions to ask your prospective San Diego Dementia Care Facility. Take the time to clearly write down the specific needs of your loved one.  What type of environment do they need to thrive, what specific medical needs they have and what areas would be a good fit for your family. Conduct a search in your area for available facilities. Ask your friends or neighbors, conduct some searches on Google, Yahoo and Bing and utilize a local directory like Choose Well.  Note all the residences you want to contact and proceed on your outreach mission. First Contact With The Prospective San Diego Dementia Care Facility When you are calling the facility for the first time, you may only…

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How to Choose a Memory Care Facility or Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Facility in San Diego

Making the decision to move your loved one into a San Diego Alzheimer's Assisted Living Facility is difficult. It takes a lot of research, time and effort to choose the right San Diego Memory Care Facility. To make sure your loved one gets all the care they need, like healthy meals, assistance getting to the bathroom and traveling to their doctor's appointments, you need to know exactly what to look for. What is Alzheimer's Assisted Living and what does it offer? Alzheimer's assisted living is a type of housing for elderly residents who have Alzheimer's or Dementia. The staff undergoes special training in order to specifically work with Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. Alzheimer's assisted living facilities offer: A safe and stable environment for your loved one A secured facility to ensure your loved one does not leave…

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Easy Crafts for Seniors with Dementia

For those whose lives have never been touched by dementia, it's not always easy to recognize the positive impact a class in crafts for dementia patients can have, especially since some of the participants of an art and crafts class don’t remember what they’ve done minutes later. People who haven’t seen what dementia is like up close don’t know the downsides. They also don’t realize how important it is to create as many good moments in the dementia patient’s life as possible. Dementia is a progressive disease that affects memory. The longer the person has it, the less they remember. They begin to forget how to do things and people they knew. Simple tasks become more difficult and more dangerous. But it isn’t until the end stages of the disease that the person loses their own…

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Alzheimer’s Communication: How to Talk to Someone with Alzheimer’s

Talking to someone with Alzheimer’s can be a frustrating task if you don’t take the right approach. Effective Alzheimer’s communication often takes a lot more effort than just talking for the sake of breaking the silence. Like any conversation, one with an Alzheimer’s patient is an opportunity to express their thoughts and feel important. It’s also a chance for you to understand how the person feels and what they need that they aren’t getting. Although engaging in conversation with a person whose condition has progressed is more challenging, it is possible. It’s important to both of you to take advantage of every moment you have while they can still communicate orally. Once that ability is gone, there are still some activities that will help them communicate. Getting the greatest value from every moment matters to the…

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Dementia and Sleep: A Sleep Aid for the Elderly

People with dementia often have problems getting a good night’s sleep. Scientists don’t really know the connection between dementia and sleep problems. They can only assume it has to do with the changes these diseases cause to the brain. Like many other symptoms of dementia, those affecting sleep vary from one person to the next. Some experience more intense feelings of confusion and anxiety during the latter part of the day. Feelings of agitation prevent them from being able to sleep. Sometimes they get up and wander during the night. Others start to feel sleepy during the day and become restless at night. These symptoms of late-day confusion are called “Sundowning” in Alzheimer’s patients. Changes in sleep patterns often lead to an increase in behavioral issues as well. Both factors add to the challenges family caregivers…

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Behavior Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease

Every 65 seconds in the United States, someone develops Alzheimer's disease. But, medication and medical knowledge have advanced over the years, and there are several effective Alzheimer's treatment options available today. This is good news because this disease has rapidly increased over the years. Between 2000 and 2011 alone, deaths from Alzheimer's disease went up by a staggering 123%. Defining Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is one common type of Dementia, and it is an illness that affects memory, behavior, and the thinking process. Alzheimer's is a slower onset type of disease, and this means that the common symptoms can slowly develop and get worse as time goes on. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but the various Alzheimer's treatment options can help to slow the progression of the symptoms. A lot of people don't notice…

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Memory Loss Medication Options

Alzheimer's disease currently affects over 5.7 million people and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Memory loss medication can't stop or slow down the progression of this disease, but they can help manage many of the common symptoms that go hand in hand with it. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that is progressive and irreversible. It slowly starts to destroy a person's cognitive skills and their memory. Eventually, it progresses far enough that people who have it can't carry out simple everyday tasks. Medical experts generally split this disease into two different categories including: Late-Onset Alzheimer's - With this type of Alzheimer's, people generally start showing common symptoms in their mid-60s. This is the most common type of Alzheimer's disease. Early-Onset Alzheimer's - This type of Alzheimer's disease is very rare,…

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Impacts of Dementia on the Brain

The impacts of dementia on the brain are complex and not fully understood, but as medical researchers and doctors learn more, the medical community has been able to develop more effective methods to support those who are suffering. Dementia is a degenerative brain condition that affects millions of seniors here in the U.S. and around the world. Although research technology has come a long way in recent years, making it easier than ever before to study the condition, there is still a lot that we just don't know. Here's what we do know about the impacts of dementia on the brain. Types of Dementia The area of the brain that dementia affects depends largely on the specific variation of dementia that afflicts the patient. There are five primary categories of dementia: Alzheimer's Disease Atypical Alzheimer's Disease Vascular Dementia…

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Advance Care Directives and End of Life Resources

When you are nearing the end of your life, you have a number of advance care directives and other end of life resources available to you. This can help to ensure that you are cared for in your later years in the manner you prefer, even if it reaches the point where you are unable to communicate your wishes on your own. Here's what you need to know about your options and how to make the most of them. Advance Care Directives Advance care directive is a general term that refers to the legal documents that specify your preferences for your medical care. It is also often called a living will. It is considered to be a legally binding document, meaning that your family and doctor must comply with your wishes or risk legal action being…

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Nine Top Risk Factors for Dementia

Dementia is a broad term that refers to overall cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease. There are many risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood of developing the condition later in life. It is important to note that risk factors are not causes; just because you have one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will develop dementia. It merely means that your chances of developing the condition are higher than those of someone who doesn't exhibit any risk factors. Some risk factors are within your control, while others are not.  Nine Top Risk Factors for Dementia Age  Age is the strongest risk factor for dementia. Although it is possible to develop dementia at a younger age, the vast majority of cases occur in individuals aged 65 or over. In fact, once you…

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