Naturally Healthy Parenting The parent's guide to a healthy family
Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50-70 percent of the dementia cases? Some other forms of dementia include Lewy body, vascular, and frontotemporal dementia, says Wikipedia.org. Broadly, dementia is a medical term that refers to loss of memory and logical thinking ability. It is not an illness, but a range of symptoms. In some cases, it may cause mood disorders and behavioural changes. These symptoms are not a part of usual aging, although elderly persons are more susceptible to these symptoms. According to a report by The Alzheimer’s Society, around 850,000 people in the U.K. are suffering from dementia, as of 2014. Of them, around 773,502 are aged 65 years or above. Thankfully, some forms of dementia can be treated or reversed, if detected early. Here are important things to know about this disease.
Common Symptoms
Identifying the symptoms of dementia is the first step towards its treatment. Once detected, one should not make a delay in seeking treatment. If your aging parents are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, consider moving them to a reliable care home in East Sussex like Avalon Nursing Home Eastbourne that provides round-the-clock assistance in a homely environment. Here are the common symptoms.
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty in thinking logically
- Changes in behaviours
- Changes in mood
- Failure to communicate properly
- Loss of ability to take personal care
- Hallucination
The disease can have an effect on the daily life and relationships of the victim. If you spot these signs in some of your near and dear ones, be sure to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Common Causes
Dementia can be caused by excessive use of prescription drugs, severe depression, substance abuse, and a number of diseases that affect nerve cells. Some examples of such diseases include Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s take a look at some other major causes.
- Brain tumour or any kind of injury, damage to the brain
- Several infections that affect the central nervous system
- Liver, lung or kidney diseases
- Metabolic disorders
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Vitamin deficiencies
Some of the causes can be treated, if proper care is given. Doctors often recommend that elderly people suffering from this illness should be shifted to a proper care home. For instance, some East Sussex nursing homes provide excellent facilities, such as, wet room facility, wheelchair access toilet, and hoist assisted bathrooms.
Treatment Options
Dementia caused by vitamin deficiency, substance abuse, tumours, and metabolic disorders is treatable. In most cases, the treatment method is determined based on the cause. For instance, if it is found that taking excessive prescription drugs is the cause, then the treatment should be done by stopping or reducing the use of those medications. However, when the causes cannot be reversed, the treatment method could be complicated and time-consuming. In such cases, the caregiver can play a major role. Whether you want to look into the benefits of Active Adult Living or getting an in-home care worker, there are lots of options. It is often wise to get a long term care quote as soon as you’re able to afford it. Insurance premiums are usually cheaper the younger you are – so planning in advance could help to provide affordable treatment in the case that Dementia does come around in later life. It is always a good idea to move such patients to an acclaimed care home, but this is completely optional and depends on personal preference. They provide the right support and counselling for quick recovery.
