Dementia isn’t a specific disease, instead, it is a word used to describe a group of symptoms that can affect a person’s memory, thinking abilities, and social skills. These symptoms prevent them from being able to safely navigate their daily lives and interfere with their ability to make appropriate decisions. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common condition linked to dementia, several other health conditions and diseases can also bring on dementia symptoms. A team that offers client advocacy services can be a great asset to your care team as you strive to provide the best care for your aging loved one.
Dementia Symptoms
Dementia symptoms can vary from person to person and can often vary within the individual as well. Some days the symptoms may not be apparent at all but other days one or two of the symptoms may make it impossible for your loved one to independently manage his day and the choices he needs to make.
Cognitive Changes You Might Notice:
- Memory loss that they might not pick up on, but others will. They usually have no idea that what they’ve forgotten happened.
- Getting lost more easily, whether it’s driving somewhere, trying to find a store in a local mall, or even finding the right room in the house.
- Trouble performing complex tasks such as paying bills online, following a recipe, or filing important paperwork.
- Struggling with reasoning and using external information to make a decision (such as it’s raining out so an umbrella should be brought along while outside).
- Reduced coordination in movements.
- Slowed reaction time.
- Easily confused and disoriented.
Social Changes You Might Notice:
- Inappropriate behavior that they wouldn’t have done before, such as burping loudly in public or using coarse language.
- Being paranoid of people or places, feeling like someone is no longer trustworthy.
- Personality changes that don’t reflect who they’ve always been.
- Withdrawing from activities and being depressed.
- Displaying a lot of negative emotions such as anger, agitation, or extreme frustration toward others or the situation at hand.
Health Conditions Linked to Dementia
While Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, some other conditions and even medications can lead to dementia-like symptoms, such as:
- Vascular dementia is often the result of a stroke.
- Frontotemporal dementia often only creates some dementia symptoms. It doesn’t affect memory but will affect behavior, judgment, and language.
- Lewy body dementia is often diagnosed as having hallucinations and confusion as to what is reality and what isn’t.
- Huntington’s disease can cause brain cells to waste away, leading to a loss of cognitive skills.
- Traumatic brain injury due to repeated injuries that many pro-sports players sustain.
- Parkinson’s disease may lead to dementia over time as the disease progresses.
Client Advocacy Services Can Help Families Dealing with Dementia
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you may look at the road in front of you and be completely overwhelmed. It may look like an impossible path to navigate. There are a lot of different options for dementia patients, and having someone help you learn about them and find the right ones for you can make all the difference. A client advocacy services associate is a trained professional who will assess, plan, and help you manage the healthcare and quality-of-life services your loved one might need as his condition progresses.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Client Advocacy Services in Delray Beach, FL, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926.
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward County.
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