Dementia How to Help a Loved One Essay - 825 Words

Dementia has caused challenges and heartache for many families I have met. A loved one who no longer recognizes you could be difficult to cope with. I have had clients who do not know their own children and are unaware of their surroundings. Even though they have lived in the same home for over 30 years; it is now a strange new place to explore. Closets, bedrooms, and garages that were once frequented are now entered with caution and wonder. Everyday items are puzzles just waiting to be solved. As the disease progresses the harder it is to grasp the present. The past, like an old friend, beckons and comes to life bringing former friends and relatives of long ago, to the surface. Stories of days gone by are repeated and relived over and†¦show more content†¦Vascular dementia is damage to the blood supply to different areas of the brain. What was known has arteriosclerotic in Alzheimer’s is now classified as Vascular dementia. This type of dementia is quite common and o ccupied by mini-stokes. Vascular dementia affects the blood flow to the brain causing severe damage and memory lapses. Blockages, with resultant tissue death in the area supplied by the vessel, had previously been thought to be the second most frequent cause (2002, Elsevier Science). Lewy bodies are microscopic intracellular abnormalities seen in the brain stem structures of patients with Parkinsons disease, but are also found distributed diffusely throughout the cortex and subcortex when associated with dementia (2002, Elsevier Science). This disease cause’s nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions (2013, alz.org). Families need to learn signs and be diligent A disease of the brain that causes long-term memory-loss marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning can cause challenges to family members. Studies have shown dementia can cause depression, irritabil ity, and sleep changes. Mood swings are just one of many of the symptom’s a loved one has to deal with. Many dementia suffers’ also have paranoia, sleeplessness, and wandering. Sun downing, occurs in the evening,Show MoreRelatedDementi A Common Concern About Senior Loved Ones Aging764 Words   |  4 PagesDementia Care: Identification and How to Proceed A common concern about senior loved ones aging is dementia. How will you know if they have it, and how do you proceed if they do? The best place to start is with a look at dementia. Dementia is a term that refers to the breakdown of cognitive activity which usually includes an impairment and/or loss of memory. While we do not yet know what causes dementia, there are signs and symptoms that indicate the onset. Additionally, there are certain conditionsRead MoreDealing With A Loved One s Cognitive Decline Essay1749 Words   |  7 PagesDealing With A Loved One s Cognitive Decline By Shomari D. Hearn | Submitted On January 30, 2015 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Shomari D. Hearn When a loved one begins to experience memoryRead MoreThe Decline Of Cognitive Decline1138 Words   |  5 PagesThe relevance of this question is that there are many families that are concerned about their loved one s health when they are placed into a nursing home. First, what are some of the reasons for families to place their loved one’s into a nursing home? Second, what is Alzheimer’s and Dementia? 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