Senior Home Care Ohio

Cleveland Ohio Elder Care

Alzheimer’s Dementia – A Primer

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Posted by Kevin Johnson.

More and more, seniors are needing home care due to the debilitating  disease know as Alzheimer’s. There are many forms of dementia with Alzheimer’s being perhaps the most well known. Because of the confusion, I want to post information to provide clarity to readers on this subject.

First, dementia isn’t a specific disease. Instead, it describes a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. It’s caused by conditions or changes in the brain. Different types of dementia exist, depending on the cause. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type.

Memory loss generally occurs in dementia, but memory loss alone doesn’t mean you have dementia. Dementia indicates problems with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss along with impaired judgment or language. Dementia can make you confused and unable to remember people and names. You may also experience changes in personality and social behavior. However, some causes of dementia are treatable and even reversible.

Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
  • Memory loss
  • Difficulty communicating
  • Inability to learn or remember new information
  • Difficulty with planning and organizing
  • Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
  • Personality changes
  • Inability to reason
  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Paranoia
  • Agitation
  • Hallucinations

Although there are several main types of progressive dementia, (dementias that get worse with time), as I mentioned above Alzheimers Disease is perhaps the most prominent.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the destruction of brain cells. Although the exact cause isn’t known, two types of brain cell (neuron) damage are common in people who have Alzheimer’s disease. These include plaques (clumps of a normally harmless protein called beta-amyloid) and tangles (fibrous tangles made up of an abnormal protein called tau protein). Alzheimer’s disease usually progresses slowly, over seven to 10 years, causing a gradual decline in cognitive abilities. Eventually, the affected part of the brain isn’t able to work properly because of limited functions, including those involving memory, movement, language, judgment, behavior and abstract thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in people age 65 and older. Symptoms usually appear after age 60, although early-onset forms of the disease can occur, usually as the result of a defective gene.

Hopefully, this brief overview will provide information that provides clarity to issues you or someone you know might be facing. From time-to-time, I’ll post additional information regarding Alzheimer’s dementia.

Research information for this post was attained from the Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic is one of many great resources doing work to understand and treat Alzheimer’s dementia.

Caregiving: What Can I Do If I Need a Break?

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Posted by Kevin K. Johnson

Taking some time off from caregiving can reduce stress. “Respite Care” provides substitute caregiving to give the regular caregiver a much-needed break. Below are the various types of respite services that are available: 

  • In-home respite. In this type of service, someone comes to your home to provide care. The type of care can range from simple companionship to nursing service. Generally, In-home respite care involves professionals that provide assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s).
  • Adult day-care centers. Many adult day-care centers are located in churches or community centers. Some day-care centers provide care for both elderly adults and young children. During the day, the two groups meet for several hours to share in activities such as reading stories. This type of contact seems to benefit both young and old.
  • Short-term nursing homes. If your loved one needs occasional nursing care and you must leave town for a couple of weeks, some nursing homes will care for your loved one while you are gone.
  • Day hospitals. Some hospitals provide medical care to patients during the day, and then at night the patient returns home. 

What Devices Can I Buy That Will Help Me Provide Care?

 There are devices that you can buy that can help you make sure that your loved one is safe. Below are some examples:

  • Emergency response systems involve a button on a necklace, bracelet, or belt that your loved one wears. If she has an emergency and you are not home, she presses the button to alert a monitoring center. The center then alerts medical personnel and you. These systems are intended for people who can press the button and do not have dementia.
  • An intercom system allows you to hear your loved one from another area of your home.
  • A Wedcam is a video camera that allows you to see your loved one from another area of the home.
  • Mobility monitors use a small transmitter to help keep track of people with dementia. When your loved one, wearing a transmitter strapped to her ankle or wrist passes out of a set range, the transmitter alerts you that your loved one is wandering away.

Alzheimer’s Dementia Disease and Caregiving

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Dementia is a medical term that often describes memory loss and is defined as the loss of intellectual skills (such as thinking, remembering, reasoning) severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. It is not a disease in itself, but rather a group of symptoms, which may accompany certain diseases or physical conditions. The cause and rate of progression of dementias vary. There are also more that 100 conditions that may cause or mimic dementia such as depression, brain tumors, nutritional deficiencies, head injuries, hydrocephalus, infections, drug reactions, and thyroid problems. It is critical that all persons experiencing memory deficits or confusion undergo a thorough diagnostic evaluation. This requires a complete evaluation by a physician who specializes in the diagnosis of demanding disorders. The process will help the patient obtain treatment for the conditions, aid the patient and family in planning future care, and provide important medical information for future generations.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common of the dementing disorders, affecting as many as 4 million Americans. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include a gradual memory loss, decline in ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation to time and place, impairment of judgement, personality change, difficulty in learning, and loss of language and communication skills.

If you are challenged with the care of a senior that is displaying any of the symptoms described above, I encourgage you to engage their physician and ask about a geriatric evaluation as soon as possible.

Seniors with Alzheimer’s Dementia represent an area of caregiving that is most challenging to their adult children or those that are providing for their care. Generally speaking, seniors that have Alzheimer’s Dementia remain happier if they are in their familiar surroundings; if they can remain living in their home. Professional caregivers are best suited to work with Alzheimer’s seniors. If you have questions or if you would like further information about caregiving for seniors with Alzheimer’s please contact me at kkj@visitingangels.com.