Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease — a medical condition characterized by loss of memory and other intellectual abilities — is one of the conditions that affect the elderly. A main risk factor of this condition is old age. However, younger people could also suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows 5 percent of people with Alzheimer’s are younger than 60 years. This health condition could be hereditary; transmitted from parent to offspring.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by Dementia, which is the medical term for memory loss. Given the fact that increasing age is a major risk factor for the disease, the elderly population is more susceptible to Dementia. As one advances in age, there is a decline in the functioning of some organs in the body. Similarly, as Alzheimer’s disease advances through the brain, it could lead to more severe symptoms such as mood and behavior changes, anxiety, unfounded suspicions about friends, family and professional caregivers, difficulty in swallowing, walking and speaking.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. There are a few therapeutic management plans, which include psychotherapy and medication. However, psychotherapy becomes less useful to the patient as cognitive decline occurs and the ability to express feelings is lost.
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information. Once this is observed, it is advised that such person schedule an appointment with their doctor for evaluation. If Alzheimer’s disease is confirmed, the physician could recommend management therapy. A caregiver could be assigned to assist such individual to prevent any injury and promote good quality of life.
The life expectancy of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is placed at an average of eight years after the symptoms are first observed. However, with a combination of the right care plan and therapy, some patients could live up to twenty years after they have been diagnosed with the disease. Some ways by which the patient’s life expectancy and quality of life could be improved include: understanding the individual and anticipating their needs, showing them love and compassion, surrounding the patient with items that trigger treasured memories such as photographs and memorable gifts.
Caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can be a somewhat tedious task which often requires a lot of patience, especially if the caregiver was familiar with the patient before the onset of the disease. The patient often forget faces they have seen, places they have been, the things they have done and many other things.
At Community Angels Nursing Services, we provide safe and compassionate care focused on you and your loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease. We specialize in home care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s as an abrupt change of environment could cause the patient to get anxious or afraid. We offer skilled nursing, home health aide and companion services.
Please give us a call today at (301–351–4992) or visit our website at http://communityangelsinc.com/ to learn more about how we could help your loved one live a better life at home.
