Smoking and long-term heavy drinking can pose risks for healthy people, but both can overtly compromise the health and safety of people living with dementia. Should you let someone with dementia smoke or drink?
Caregiving for a loved one is a unique experience that is, for many people, its own reward. But that doesn’t mean that caregiving doesn’t come with its challenges. Caring for another person can be a major inconvenience, and can even require you to put your own life plans on hold. This is often a bigger concern for younger caregivers, who are more likely to be at a point in their life where they’re going to school, trying to start their career or trying to find a romantic partner.
Today, about 15.7 million adult family members, many of them are spouses, are in the role of caregiving for someone who has dementia. While caregiving a spouse with dementia is common, it can come with some unique challenges.
Caregivers frequently ask if they need a geriatric care manager to help them find long-term dementia care. Our short answer is no, a geriatric care manager is not required, however, much of that answer rests upon other factors, such as, how much knowledge you have about memory care living.
Sundara Memory Care is specifically designed to lessen confusion and agitation and help our residents maintain routines. We provide plentiful opportunities for socialization and recreation, which reduces anxiety, promotes familiarity, and supports a sense of comfort. Relationships in this environment are more cohesive and in-depth compared to much larger communities, and science backs this up.
Memory loss is the most common symptom of dementia. Your loved one in the early stages of dementia may remember that they have the syndrome, but people typically forget their diagnosis as it progresses. Your loved one may repetitively ask you, “Do I have dementia?” They may also ask, “What is wrong with me?” They might also not be able to articulate what they are experiencing, and this can generate confusion, frustration, and stress. Should you remind your loved one that they have dementia, even if you must do it repeatedly? Or should you just let it go?
Contact your primary care physician if you are seeing signs of cognitive decline in your loved one. Most primary care physicians can perform an initial assessment and evaluation. It is important to get this diagnosis as soon as possible. Early intervention can slow down dementia’s rate of progression.
Even though the reasons for anxiety in people with dementia vary individually, there are some common threads. Caregivers most often manage anxiety with a focus on the following five common causes.