Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. People with vascular dementia have problems with reasoning, judgment, and memory. These symptoms can appear suddenly or they could be mild at first and gradually worsen. It can be challenging to diagnose because it can occur together with Alzheimer’s and the symptoms can vary from case to case. We…
For a person living with dementia, the world can often feel confusing and isolating. But a simple, compassionate intervention—the offer of a therapy doll can sometimes work wonders where words fail. This isn’t about treating an adult like a child; it’s about tapping into a profound human need for purpose, connection, and unconditional love. Seeing an older adult gently cradle and care…
Seniors with dementia may easily get frustrated and stressed Sometimes it seems like seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia become angry at the drop of a hat. Most likely, they’re suddenly reaching a breaking point because of built-up frustrations from everyday tasks. This might be the root cause of aggressive behavior or angry outbursts. To reduce these “dementia and anger” flare-ups, they…
Dementia exercise program improves cognitive symptoms A dementia exercise therapy program that can easily be done at home improves abilities and quality of life in seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Love to Move is a chair-based exercise program designed for seniors with dementia. It was developed by the British Gymnastics Foundation (BGF) and inspired by successful programs in Asia. It’s been shown…
Alzheimer’s wandering is dangerous Getting lost or accidentally wandering away is a serious issue for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and a major worry for families. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 out of 10 people with dementia will wander. It can happen at any point in the disease, even if they’ve never done it before. It might seem unbelievable that…
Frontotemporal dementia tends to start at younger ages Frontotemporal dementia is the 5th most common cause of dementia. It’s also referred to as FTD or frontal lobe dementia. It’s estimated that there are 50,000 to 60,000 people living with FTD in the United States. It often occurs between the ages of 45 and 65, but can also start as early as age 20…
When a loved one is living with dementia, communication can become a daily source of frustration and heartache for everyone involved. The “right” words often get lost, conversations can circle endlessly, and you might feel like you’re no longer able to connect in a meaningful way. But what if you could learn a new set of simple, powerful techniques that could help…
When an older loved one starts showing signs of memory loss or confusion, it’s easy to fear the worst. But what if the problem isn’t dementia at all? Surprisingly, many common and treatable health conditions can masquerade as cognitive decline, creating almost identical symptoms. The crucial difference is that with the proper diagnosis, these conditions can often be reversed, restoring your loved…
Long term care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is expensive. To be able to provide the best care possible, it’s important to plan ahead for future care costs. HealthMarkets explains what Medicare does and doesn’t cover for Alzheimer’s and dementia care. As of 2019, an estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. And the…
You’ve probably wondered what seniors with dementia are thinking When you’re caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you’ve probably wondered: what is it like to live with dementia? To shed some light on that question, BuzzFeed collected stories from people with dementia. These individuals shared what was happening in their minds and how it affected their ability to participate…
