Dementia Care in Burr Ridge - Dementia Is More Common Than You Think

ComForcare Home Care of La Grange, along with other owners and staff members of ComForcare Home Care offices from across the country, recently participated in a full-day ComForcare course on providing specialized dementia care.  This class was presented as part of a new ComForcare program to help its franchise locations better understand how dementia affects people and how to train their caregivers to provide the care clients with dementia need to optimize their abilities and enhance their quality of life. 

This blog, the first in a two-part series, defines dementia and describes the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of the condition.

According to Wikipedia, "Dementia is a serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging."  There are many forms of dementia including: Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia (caused by cardiovascular conditions and events such as strokes), Lewy Body disease (also referred to as Parkinson's dementia), frontotemporal dementia (which often starts in younger people in their 50's and 60's) and alcohol-related dementia.  

Dementia is not just about memory loss. It can affect any part of the brain and impact a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living and much more.  For example, a person suffering from dementia can experience a loss of balance or deterioration in judgment, reasoning, logic and problem-solving abilities.  Any of these symptoms can make it unsafe for someone with dementia to live alone or make it difficult for families who have not had formal training to effectively care for a loved one.

Alzheimer's disease accounts for approximately 60-80% of all diagnosed cases of dementia. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and today, an estimated 5 million people age 65 or older suffer from this incurable disease. Every 68 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's disease, and unless there are medical breakthroughs that prevent or cure Alzheimer’s, by 2050 approximately 14 million people age 65 or older will have it.   

Many families assume that when a loved one experiences difficulty remembering things that it is just a normal part of the aging process, but this may not be the case.  The Alzheimer's Association has developed 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's disease:   

1.  Memory changes that disrupt daily life

2.  Challenges in planning and solving problems

3.  Difficulty completing family tasks at home, work or leisure

If a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms, an evaluation by a physician is important. If it is dementia, a diagnosis of the type and stage makes it easier to understand care needs, now and in the future. Although there is no way to cure or even slow down Alzheimer's disease, there are prescriptions that can help manage symptoms. The earlier the diagnosis, the more time families have to plan for the future.

Barry Reisberg, M.D., clinical director of the New York University School of Medicine's Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center, developed seven stages of Alzheimer's to provide an idea of how abilities change during the progression of the disease. These stages and much more information on Alzheimer’s are on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website (www.alz.org).

Next month's article will feature helpful tips for families caring for a loved one with dementia.

ComForcare is also a member of the Alzheimer's Association's Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance and trains its caregivers on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's. If a caregiver suspects a client may be showing signs of Alzheimer's disease, the family will be notified so that the client can receive prompt medical attention.

Bryan J. Romane - Owner

ComForcare Home Care of La Grange

Supporting Independence, Dignity and Quality of Life 

708.261.0080

http://chicagowest.comforcare.com/