Understanding Alzheimer's
As people grow older, changes in the brain cause some decline in short-term memory and a slowing down in learning ability. There is a general decrease in cognitive powers, which affect the individual’s memory, thinking, reasoning, judgment and behavior. These changes, which occur throughout the nervous system, often cause an individual to become confused.
There are two main types of confusion — acute confusion, also known as “delirium”, and chronic confusion, also known as “dementia”. They each have distinct characteristics, which affect cognitive abilities and behavioral patterns.
The most common form of dementia is “Alzheimer’s Disease”, for which there is no cure. It is a progressive disease and has three main stages. While it can’t be cured, it can be managed.
There are various ways a Preferred Care at Home caregiver can support seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. This would include such measures as maintaining a safe and calm environment, making the senior feel secure and providing ongoing and increasing support with their activities of daily living.
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Causes |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
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The cause is not known but theories are:
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- problems remembering conversations - forgetting where objects have been placed routine tasks, which require thought, become more difficult - difficulty responding to simple problems - becoming lost in familiar surroundings - difficulty finding the appropriate words - problems paying attention - less responsive |
There is no cure but it can be managed by: - delay the onset - regular exercise - intellectual stimulation - social interactions - stimulating environment - support groups |
