Dementia that begins earlier in life is rare, but it does happen. Early-onset dementia can start as early as 30, but usually happens around age 50. Because it starts so much earlier in life, early-onset dementia comes with some unique challenges for individuals, as well as their families.
Dementia can cause several types of cognitive problems, but memory loss is the most common. If your parent’s been diagnosed with dementia, they may remember a lot of things in the early stages, but will forget things about themself and others as the disease progresses – including the fact that they have dementia.
Early-onset dementia, also known as young-onset dementia, refers to cognitive declines that happen in the brain before age 65. Early-onset dementia is unexpected, meaning that individuals who’ve been diagnosed and their families are usually unprepared for what lies ahead. If you’ve just received an early-onset dementia diagnosis in your family, this blog post can help you to create a care plan for your loved one and to plan for the future.
Have you ever felt refreshed and less stressed after partaking in a fun activity? Sometimes, a change of scenery does us some much-needed good. Our loved ones with dementia especially benefit from getting out and doing things that are fun and away from the daily routine.
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.
If you’re a caretaker for a loved one with dementia, at some point, they may experience delusions – strong beliefs that have no real basis in reality, which can form into paranoia which worsens as dementia progresses. Paranoia adds an extra layer of stress to the already difficult job of caretaking, but there are ways you can soothe your loved one and manage their symptoms.