A brief user friendly description of what happens when the Parietal Lobes are affected in dementia. Click below to watch. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia – Parietal Lobe Damage We at Senior Life Care Planning help seniors and their families independent and professional advice on your parent’s needs, requirements, how to pay for care, and their goals. Consequently, we can help you alleviate the fear of your parents and yourselves, with caring and compassionate professionals. It’s really important that you plan to take care of your parents. Therefore, the best way to prepare is to incorporate a LIFE CARE…
Problems handling finances are often the first sign of cognitive decline. Financial competence involves a complex set of skills, from simple arithmetic to remembering to pay bills to understanding how loans work. Therefore, impaired seniors are at risk not only because unscrupulous outsiders (or their own family members) can defraud them, but because they themselves make self-destructive decisions as shoppers or investors. This is a strong indicator that a dementia diagnosis will follow, often within a year. So how should a primary care physician respond when a family member reports these symptoms? The JAMA article suggests that doctors talk to…
Click here to review Members of Congress Discuss Importance of Advocacy for people with dementia. You can make up your own mind about this, I have my opinion but can't print it. Give me your thoughts and comments, and maybe we can send Congress our "Advocacy" !!!!
The Alzheimer’s Association developed a publication called Tools for Early Identification, Assessment and Treatment for People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia the following is ten warning signs. For individuals with several of these symptoms they should see a physician for a complete examination. 1. Memory loss. One of the most common early signs of dementia is forgetting recently learned information. While it’s normal to forget appointments, names, or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget such things more often and not remember them later. 2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday…
Sleep problems are often dismissed by caregivers for two common, misguided reasons, says geriatric psychiatrist Ken Robbins. First, they assume that poor sleep is part of aging or of dementia, and that nothing can be done about it. Second, they fear that addressing sleep problems is “selfish,” only for their benefit. The senior whose sleep issues are addressed will experience better mood, more energy, and less pain; sleep is closely connected with all three conditions. And the caregiver who makes his or her own sleep a priority will be better able to cope with caregiving stresses and will have more…
Each year a million people begin to recognize they have a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) i.e. memory loss. Although, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, memory loss can decline due to: Delirium (confusion due to infection, medication, acute illness) Depression (may include memory problems) Urinary tract infection Vitamin B 12 deficiency Thyroid problems Especially, if the memory loss or confusion occurs rapidly, this may indicate the above systems rather than Alzheimer’s disease. Generally, Alzheimer’s disease is a slow decline of cognition abilities. Consequently, contact a neurologist or a geriatrician to evaluate your loved one. Unfortunately, if dementia…
Although, wandering is a major concern for a caregiver, wandering requires addressing only if it presents safety issues or is causing distress. Using an identification bracelet can be helpful – see the Alzheimer’s Association website. Wandering in a person with dementia can be: • Coping with stress • Making sense of their environment • Seeking something or someone recognizable • Wanting to go their childhood “home.”
This can be verbal or physical and often occurs when the stress level of the person with dementia has been exceeded. Often the person with dementia feels their personal space is being invaded. Depression is often associated with verbal outbursts. Dealing with an acute episode can include: • Speak slowly, maintain eye contact and be calm • Divert attention away from the event • Distract and redirect the person • Investigate your loved one’s fears and show an understanding of their distress • Minimize external stimuli • Avoid events that trigger a reoccurrence.
Frederick, MD 
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