Dementia of Any Type Can Be Exhausting

Dementia is a term used to describe a lot of symptoms that can be caused by many different things. Dementia can be temporary - such as the period after surgery or a seizure, or from an infection that can be corrected. Most often, however, dementia cannot be corrected. It is normally a progressive issue that continues to get worse as different parts of the brain are affected. Caregivers and loved ones will also tell you that dementia is exhausting. Why? Because just as you get a grip on how it is affecting your loved one, it can change. It can also be physically and emotionally tiring as your loved one requires more help or supervision. No one person will experience dementia the same way another person does. For some people, it will start as making financial errors. For others, falls may be the first symptom, because dementia can alter depth perception. Some people mistakenly believe that because their loved one can recall events from long ago, that they don't have real memory loss. Short-term memory loss refers to forgetting recent events and situations and is seen in roughly 50% of people at age 80. This type of memory loss can cause dangerous medication errors and other poor decisions. If you are caring for a loved one and you need support or more information, please consider joining our Caregiver Support Group. We are a confidential and supportive group that meets the last Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at Ivy Springs Manor Luxury Senior Living. Please call 770-573-9096 for more information. Everyone is welcome.