10 Warning Signs of Dementia

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10 Warning Signs of dementia

Transcript of 10 Warning Signs of Dementia

10 Warning Signs of dementia

Welcome

6th Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth

leading cause of death in the

United States

5 million Number of Americans

who are living with

Alzheimer’s disease

Why Dementia is a “Big Deal”

1 in 3 Older adults who will die

with some form of dementia

(meaning that 2 out of 3

will not)

2/3 Ratio of women among

Alzheimer’s disease patients

Why Dementia is a “Big Deal”

60% Ratio of dementia

caregivers who are women

15 million Americans who care

for an individual with

dementia

Why Dementia is a “Big Deal”

51% Ratio of people with Alzheimer’s

living at home and being cared for

by a family member, a paid

caregiver or both

64% Ratio of Alzheimer’s caregivers

caring for a parent, while 18% are

caring for a spouse

Why Dementia is a “Big Deal”

38% Ratio of caregivers providing more

than 30 h/week of unpaid care for

a loved one

25% Ratio of caregivers who quit their job

as a result, in addition to 30% who

had to cut their hours

Why Dementia is a “Big Deal”

Covering several forms of

neurocognitive disorders

Dementia, an “ Umbrella Term”

Reversible vs. Irreversible

• Brain Tumor

• Depression

• Dehydration

• Surgery

• Metabolic Disorders

• Side effects from medications

• Infections

• Nutritional Deficiencies

• Head Trauma

• Circulatory Disorders

Reversible vs. Irreversible

• Brain Tumor

• Depression

• Dehydration

• Surgery

• Metabolic Disorders

• Side effects from medications

• Infections

• Nutritional Deficiencies

• Head Trauma

• Circulatory Disorders

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Lewy Body Disease

• Vascular Dementia

• Huntington Disease

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Frontotemporal

Most Common Forms

• Alzheimer’s Disease (60 to 70% of cases)

• Vascular Dementia

• Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson’s

Disease-related dementia

Versus normal aging

of the brain

10 Warning Signs

#1 Memory Loss

• Forgetting recently learned

information

• Forgetting important dates or

events

• Asking for the same

information repeatedly

• Increasingly needing to rely

on memory aids

What is normal? Occasional forgetting of appointments or

names but remembering them later.

#2 Challenges in Planning or Problem Solving

What is normal? Making occasional errors when balancing

a checkbook.

• Inability to work with numbers

• Inability to follow a familiar

recipe

• Inability to keep track of monthly

bills

• Inability to concentrate for long

periods of time

• Difficulty in completing daily tasks

• Trouble driving to a familiar location

• Difficulty managing a budget

• Difficulty remembering the rules to a

favorite game

What is normal? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on

a microwave or record a television show.

#3 Difficulty completing familiar tasks

#4 Confusion with Time or Place

What is normal? Getting confused about the day of the week

but figuring it out later.

• Losing track of dates

• Difficulty understanding when

something will be happening

• May forget where they are

• May forget how they got there

What is normal? Vision changes related to cataracts.

• Difficulty reading

• Difficulty judging distance

• Difficulty determining color

or contrast

• Difficulty driving

#5 Trouble Understanding Visual Images or Spatial Relationships

What is normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

#6 New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing

• Calling things by the wrong name

• Struggling with vocabulary

• Problems finding the right word

• Difficulty following or joining a

conversation

# 7 Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace One’s Steps

What is normal? Misplacing things

from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

• Misplacing items in unusual places

• Losing items

• Inability to retrace one’s steps

• Accusing others of stealing

#8 Decreased or Poor Judgment

What is normal? Making a bad or foolish decision once

in a while

• Changes in judgment and/or decision making

• Giving large sums of money away

• Falling for scams

• Lack of grooming

#9 Withdrawal from Social Activities

What is normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and

social obligations

• Difficulty keeping up with

a sports team

• Inability to participate in

or to complete a favorite

hobby

#10 Changes in Mood and Personality

What is normal? Developing very specific ways of doing things and

becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted

• Confused

• Suspicious

• Depressed

• Fearful

• Anxious

• Easily upset outside of

comfort zone

Plan for the worst,

hope for the best…

What Can We Do Now?

While there is no known cure,

it is suggested that healthy

life choices may slow the

progress of the disease.

• Eat well, sleep well

• Exercise your body (it will

oxygenate your brain)

• Exercise your mind

• Socialize!

What Can We Do Now? Live Healthy

• Take charge of your medical

history

• Ask questions, speak up

• Be mindful of medicine side-

effects and interactions

• Be honest with your doctor:

don’t keep your memory

concerns a secret

• Keep your children updated

What Can We Do Now? See Your Doctor

• Start sharing medical and

financial information with

your children

• Make your end-of-life wishes

clear and documented

• Have a solid network:

attorney, accountant, etc.

• Become knowledgeable about

home health agencies in your

area, and about senior living

options

What Can We Do Now? Establish Trust

• Possibly the most painful element

of neurocognitive disorders is the

frequent built-in element of

denial.

• Try your best to remain honest

with yourself and others about

matters that impact your safety,

such as poor driving, living in a

house in disrepair, or giving

excessively to “charities.” Try not

to feel embarrassed.

What Can We Do Now? Be Honest

If your spouse has received a

diagnosis of dementia:

• Stay close to children and

friends.

• Don’t be a “hero” trying to

handle it alone. Watch for

burnout.

• Join a support group.

• Be better informed about all

options, especially if something

should happen to you.

What Can We Do Now? Get Help

When dealing with a loved one

experiencing memory loss

Communication Tips

Communication Changes

• Difficulty finding the right words

• Using familiar words repeatedly

• Describing familiar objects rather

than calling them by name

• Reverting to speaking a native

language

• Speaking less often

• Relying on gestures more than

speaking

15% Words… 85% Nonverbal

Empathic Listening

1. Be non-judgmental

2. Give undivided

attention

3. Focus on feelings and

not just the facts

4. Allow time for

reflection

5. Use restatement to

clarify messages

The best and most beautiful

things in the world cannot be

seen or even touched. They

must be felt from the heart.

Helen Keller

Don’ts… • Speak to the person as if

they were a child

• Scold the person

• Speak to the person in

negatives

• Startle the person

• Assume that every person

with dementia is alike

• Call by name (avoid pronouns)

• Simple and short sentences

• Wait for a response

• Watch your non-verbal hints

• Speak to the person as if they

understand

• Respond to the person’s feelings

• Be flexible

Do’s…

Early Stage

• No assumptions

• Speak directly to the person

• Listen to feelings

• Time to respond

• Explore the method of

communication

• Laugh

• Be honest and frank

Middle Stage • Patience and support

• Eye contact

• Avoid criticism or correction

• Do not argue

• Do not overwhelm the person

• Speak slowly and clearly

• One at a time

• Yes or no questions

• Visual cues

• Written notes

Late Stage

• Dignity and respect

• Positive physical approach

• Nonverbal communication

• Look for feelings behind the

words

• Use sensory as a form of

communication

A comprehensive approach

At Cross Keys Village

Residential Living

• Active, independent, healthy lifestyle

• Apartments, cottages and larger Bridgewater homes

• Better environment than your current

neighborhood for “Aging in Place”

• Village Services

• Technology

• A solution to many health-related “what if’s”

including memory-impairment worries

• Other service lines are available on campus, which

is especially valuable to couples

Residential Living

Personal Care

• What used to be called Assisted Living

• Neighborhoods matching residents’ abilities

• A great social program for a population at risk of

isolation and loneliness

• Medicine management and some “light-duty”

nursing services

• Team members are regularly trained on all aspects

of Memory Care

Personal Care

Adult Day Services

• A wholesome day in a safe environment

• A welcome break for caregivers

• Economical when compared to the cost of home

care

• Team members are regularly trained on all aspects

of Memory Care

• Some Villagers use this program for their spouses

Adult Day Services

Health Care Center

• Round the clock nursing care

• Short- and long-term care

• Excellent rehab department

• Team members are regularly trained on all aspects

of Memory Care

• A great solution for couples when one member is

much more frail than the other

Health Care Center

• Round the clock nursing care

• Short- and long-term care

• Excellent rehab department

• Team members are regularly trained on all aspects

of Memory Care

• A great solution for couples when one member is

much more frail than the other.

Health Care Center

But Please Remember…

• A CCRC is not a conveyor

belt

• Villagers have a much better

chance of “Aging in Place”

than their friends who stayed

in their home

• Most of our Health Care

residents come to us from

the hospital of from the

outside

• A CCRC is definitely worth

investigating if you are

worried about future memory

loss

Please Remember…

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Questions