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Understanding How to Support a Loved One With Dementia

An estimated fifty million people around the world are living with dementia, and somebody develops dementia every three seconds. It’s a very real health problem that typically impacts older people. If you have an older loved one who is showing some signs of dementia or has been diagnosed with this condition, ensuring that they get the right care is the most important part of making sure that they are able to maintain a good quality of life despite the condition. Dementia impacts family members and other loved ones around the person with the condition and figuring out how to provide the right care and support can often be daunting.

Understanding Dementia

It’s important to take some time to get a better understanding of dementia and how it affects the person, in order to provide the best care. Dementia is the term used to describe a loss of cognitive and behavioral functions, especially in elderly people. Dementia can have a significant impact on the person’s ability to reason, think, remember, manage their lives, solve problems, regulate emotions, perceive things visually, and more.

Getting Professional Help

It can be beneficial to get professional help for a loved one with dementia as early as possible. Your doctor can recommend different treatment options that might be helpful, such as medication that your loved one can take to help reduce the impact of symptoms or the progression of the disease. While there is no cure for dementia, professional help can make it easier to manage the condition. It can also be worth considering helping your loved one move to a care setting such as assisted living Potomac MD.

How Dementia Changes Life

Many people assume that dementia only impacts memory and learning abilities. However, the truth is that this condition can often have a much further reach into the life of the affected individual. As dementia progresses in your loved one, you may notice some changes in their behavior, communication, preferences, abilities, habits, eating patterns, sleeping habits, and more.

Dementia and Communication

It is often necessary to change the way that you communicate with a loved one who has dementia. It’s important to be clear, slow, and patient when it comes to how you communicate. Physical touch, such as a supportive hand on the shoulder, a hug, or holding a hand can be an ideal way to communicate with somebody who is affected by dementia and would benefit from being brought back to reality if they are hallucinating or becoming confused.

Understanding Triggers with Dementia

A person with dementia may be at a higher risk of developing other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. It can also lead to higher levels of stress, agitation, irritability, aggression, loss of inhibition, and hallucinations. Understanding what is likely to trigger these feelings and behaviors in your loved one can help you manage these situations better and provide them with more effective support.

Dementia is a common issue affecting older people throughout the world. Understanding dementia and how you can help with managing the condition is important if your loved one has developed symptoms.

Jason

Navigating the intricate maze of news with precision, Jason strikes with clarity and depth. On newsninjapro.com, he distills the essence of current events, offering readers a sleek, informed perspective.

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