By Michelle Singletary
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The time has come.
As the nation ages, millions of adults will find they are thrust into caring for an aging parent or other relative. My husband and I have just joined this group of caregivers.
We recently began taking care of my father-in-law, a fiercely independent, 81-year-old ex-military man. He’s mentally competent, but his basic living needs — walking, cooking, bathing and cleaning his house — have become too hard for him.
So for now, he’s living with our family of five.
My father-in-law would rather be living on his own. We are trying to make that happen, but he can’t move back into his home without a lot of daily help and supervision.
I recently participated on a panel on elder care hosted by Volunteers of America, a nonprofit that provides human service programs nationwide to seniors, veterans and families. I had no idea when I accepted the invitation that the conversation would hit so close to my home.
It was a sobering discussion when you consider that by 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. And when they need that care, they will realize that they and the caregivers they will have to lean on are woefully unprepared for the cost.
“As a baby boomer myself with parents in their 80s, I find it hard to face the reality of preparing,” said Vicki Bendure, a spokeswoman for Volunteers of America. “They’re in relatively good health at the moment, but we have yet to discuss the grueling particulars, and my sister and I and our families just continue to pretend the inevitable isn’t going to happen. I feel like there’s a tsunami on the horizon.”
The storm is coming, and it’s likely to bring emotional and financial turmoil.
I thought I knew a lot about caring for the elderly — and I do — but I still was unprepared for how quickly the workload and concerns would take a toll on my family life. As I trek up and down stairs to the basement guest room checking on my father-in-law and taking him meals, I’m annoyed that when we built our home several years ago, we didn’t include a bedroom on the first floor. We talked about it but believed we had years before it would be an issue.
We didn’t have as long as we thought.
The burden has largely fallen on my husband and me to figure out the best care and living situation for my father-in-law. But the most distressing thing about this situation is that he is caught in the middle of a conundrum so many seniors face.
He is too rich for most government-funded social programs and not rich enough to pay for full-time, long-term care services. He was a good steward of his resources, but still it’s going to be tough for him to afford the care he needs.
He has health insurance. He has Medicare. But contrary to what many people assume, Medicare generally does not pay for long-term care, which assists people with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing and using the bathroom. Medicare helps pay for medically necessary skilled nursing or home health care, but only if you meet certain conditions.
Medicaid, the state and federal government program, will pay for some long-term care services, but it’s limited to people with low incomes and limited assets.
As we go through the process, I’ll be writing about our experience and what resources we find. One place I’ve explored is http://www.medicare.gov. On the Web site you will find a “Long-Term Care Planning Tool.” You will be asked 12 to 20 questions that will help you start the process of finding long-term care.
For now, I have a little advice to offer. If you have even an inkling that you may become the caregiver for an aging parent or relative, start planning for it now. Ask questions about the person’s finances. Collect information from community and nonprofit organizations.
Get your own finances in order because you’ll probably have to pitch in financially.
Most importantly, if you are the one in your family whom people rely on or who steps up to take on the challenge when a family crisis occurs, accept now that you will be the one taking care of your elderly parents or relatives. Don’t waste time or expend the emotional energy arguing with siblings that it’s not fair you’re left with this heavy responsibility. Ask them to help, but if they’re unmovable, suck it up, get professional counseling or find a caregiver support group.
Prepare now. The time will come before you know it.
Readers can write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
Sometimes life goes more smoothly when you’ve got a companion. Not only does a home helper give you someone to talk to, a companion can help ease your burden, no matter what that burden is. Sometimes as we age we lose our companions and when that happens, life can seem lonely and even unbearable. But it doesn’t have to be that way because nowadays, a home companion is someone you can hire.
Building a relationship
There are many advantages of having someone you can count on provide in home care and building a relationship is one of them. As with any type of relationship, your first experiences may seem a bit awkward and perhaps uncomfortable. After all, you’re total strangers and you’ll need time to get to know one another. You’ve probably got a routine and the in-home carer needs to learn it.
But soon enough you’ll hopefully be very comfortable with your home companion. And if you’re not, there’s a good chance you can talk with someone – a family member or the provider of your in home care – to see about finding another with whom you might get along better. After all, this person is coming in your home to help you so it’s important that you’re able to work together.
With the same individual coming to your home regularly, you can’t help but develop a relationship with that person. It won’t take long before you’re friends, chatting about nothing, going out to eat or to the movies, and helping you to cope with whatever life delivers.
Remain in familiar surroundings
The fact that this person is coming into your home is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of in home care. Rather than being uprooted, you get to remain in your home, a familiar place that’s filled with your all your belongings and all your memories. That actually can help the relationship with your home companion grow. Your photographs, your decorating style, your pets and the like can tell a lot about the person you are. Knowing more about who you are is what’s going to help your home companion understand you better.
By understanding you and your individual needs better, you’ll have someone on whom you can rely to give you the personal attention you need on a daily or regular basis. That personal attention might involve matters of personal hygiene, or housekeeping, or errand running, or help with daily tasks, or friendship or all of the above. The ability to pick and choose the type of assistance you need most and that you want is another of the advantages of individual in home care.
There are other advantages, too. Family can relax knowing that you’re getting the care and attention that they aren’t able to provide, alleviating their guilt and their worry. In home care is also an affordable option and if you contract the services of a company that’s reputable, licensed and bonded, there’s little chance you or your home will be victimized in any way.
What is memory loss?
Memory loss is something we all experience in life. We forget familiar names, we cannot remember where we left our wallets and purses the previous evening, and we can’t remember everything needed at the grocery store without having a list. This type of memory loss is perfectly normal and as we age, such mild forgetfulness may start happening more and more.
However there are also times when memory loss is not attributed to aging. For example, memory loss is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss can also happen after suffering a traumatic experience. It can happen if you suffer from depression or are lonely, sad, worried and even when you’re bored. It can result from dehydration, or after falling and hitting your head, or because of the way different medications you’re taking interact with one another. Excessive use of drugs and alcohol can also be factors in memory loss.
When does memory loss occur?
Every person is different, but most will begin noticing forgetfulness around mid-life. What happens with memory loss is that over the course of your life, your brain cells start to die off causing a normal decline in your brain’s ability to remember.
Sometimes brain cells become damaged, such as after a stroke or a series of mini-strokes. Strokes interfere with the normal flow of blood to the brain, oftentimes decreasing its supply. Head injuries can also damage brain cells and cause memory loss.
Demystifying some common myths associated with memory loss
Memory loss cannot be reversed
This is true if the memory loss is a symptom of another condition or disease such as Alzheimer’s. However, if your problems are caused by drug interactions, a change in your prescription may help. If it’s due to excessive alcohol consumption, cutting back can help. If it’s because of a traumatic experience you may need professional guidance to help you to work through the situation. These scenarios are associated with “reversible” memory loss and as the name implies, the associated memory loss oftentimes can be reversed.
There aren’t any exercises for the mind
This isn’t true and mind exercises can help sharpen your memory so that you don’t forget quite as often. Eating right and exercising provide valuable nutrients and improve circulation to the brain. Playing cards, learning new skills, doing puzzles and brain teasers, and maintaining an active and social life can all benefit your mind and help you stay focused and alert.
Memory loss happens naturally as we age
While this is probably true, it is never a good idea to assume that your forgetfulness is “normal.” It could be the sign of another condition. That’s why it is very important to share this problem with your medical specialist. Urine and blood tests, CAT scans, and recall tests in which the doctor asks you questions in an effort to determine how well you recall information can all be administered to help rule out other causes of memory loss.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system which affects greater than 1.5 million people in the United States. Movement and c oordination in your body are controlled in part by a chemical in your brain called dopamine. This brain chemical is used to send messages to your muscles to make them move properly. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system caused by a lack of dopamine. In PD, dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged, gradually reducing dopamine levels in the parts of the brain (Substantia Nigra) thought to control movement. This loss of dopamine causes a variety of movement problems including a decrease in spontaneous movements, postural instability, difficulty with gait, rigidity and tremor. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s were originally described in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson, an English physician, who called it “Shaking Palsy.” It wasn’t until the 1960’s, however, that pathological and biochemical changes in the brain of patients were identified, leading the way to the first effective medications for the disease.
Both men and women are affected with Parkinson’s disease. The frequency is considerably higher in the 60-plus age group, but there is an alarming increase in patients of younger age groups. It is thought that as a result of increased longevity in the United States and worldwide, an ever increasing number of people will fall victim to this disease.
Although great progress has been made in understanding Parkinson’s disease, the cause is still unknown. Many researchers believe that some combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the onset of PD.
If you have PD, you may find that ordinary actions become more difficult – getting dressed or preparing a meal may not be as easy as it once was. Your doctor will more than likely look for some common symptoms to determine whether you have Parkinson’s, such as tremor of a hand or arm, stiffness, slowness, and/or loss of balance. Other seemingly unrelated symptoms may include soft speech or difficulty swallowing, muscle cramping, challenges in initiating and maintaining movement, and/or depression or sleep distubances including acting out dreams while asleep.
Because PD is a progressive illness, symptoms slowly get worse over time. However, the types of symptoms and the rate of changes experienced are different for every person with PD. It is most important to remember there are many ways you can help yourself and stay active in your day to day life.
The standard medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease has been the administration of the drug levodopa. Once it reaches the brain, levodopa is converted to dopamine which replaces the same substance not present in sufficient amounts in patients of this disease. Levodopa treatment does not prevent the progressive changes of the brain typical of the disease and may also produce side effects in some patients, due to its change to dopamine before reaching the brain. The simultaneous administration with levodopa of medications inhibiting this change allows for a greater concentration of levodopa to actually reach the brain while considerably decreasing the side effects. Newer drugs have recently been approved offering a wider choice of medications for this disease. Other drugs are under investigation in the United States and abroad in an effort to obtain improved therapeutic results with fewer side effects.
The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., the local Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego and the Parkinson Disease Foundation offer educational programs that provide information and resources to patients and their families, friends and other interested parties. Their efforts, along with those of doctors and other medical professionals greatly enhance public awareness and education of the disease. Their websites are:
Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego: www.pdasd.org
American Parkinson Disease Association: www.apdaparkinson.org
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation : www.pdf.org
The telephone number for our local Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego is 877-737-7576. They have vast amounts of educational information and resources and offer support groups which provide education, counseling, assistance and referrals for patients and their families throughout the San Diego area. I have met this exceptionally compassionate and knowledgeable group of men and women and strongly encourage you to call them if you or your loved one needs assistance.
Advanta Home Care of San Diego, California provides top quality non-medical home care services with dedicated and compassionate companion aids/caregivers. They provide home care, elder care, live-in care, respite care, personal care, comanion care, errands, shopping,transportation to appointments, home helper and senior helper services and many other types of non-medical senior care at affordable prices. A locally owned and operated company in La Mesa, California serving San Diego County.
Please call us when you or your loved one needs help at 619-461-2323
Tags: parkinson's disease, parkinson's san diego, parkinsons
To understand the seriousness of heart disease in women, we need to first look at the facts. According to recent studies, it’s found that more than 8 million American women are currently living with some form of heart disease. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women and more women than men die of heart disease each year.
Heart disease in women can be diagnosed and treated but the key to staying healthy is prevention. Once a woman finds out that she has heart disease, it may already be too late. Chances are, that woman has engaged in several risk factors throughout her lifetime that contributed to her contracting the disease. Such risk factors that increase the risk of heart disease in women include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, not being active, diabetes and obesity.
Women need to understand that these risk factors need to be avoided as much as possible because they are so susceptible to the disease. Heart disease in women doesn’t need to be as much of an epidemic it has become. With just a few lifestyle changes, all women can once more live long and healthy lives without the risk for heart disease.
Of course, there are other risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease in women that can’t be helped. These risk factors include age, heredity, the effects of menopause, etc. By knowing this, women should arm themselves with as much information as they can so that they can know just what they are dealing with.
Heart disease in women doesn’t need to have such a high morality rate.
By adopting a few lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, eating right, quitting smoking and reducing stress levels, women can drastically reduce the propensity for heart disease. This is important not only for heart disease but for other diseases as well.
Heart disease in women does claim many lives each and every year but the disease can be manageable and preventable. Women need to study and learn as much as they can. They need to be educated. Not many women know that they have such a high probability of getting the disease. All women need to know that they have a greater risk of getting the disease than men. By understanding and knowing this, women will have a step up on this horrible disease and, maybe one day, heart disease in women will be a thing of the past.
By M. Pesic, Senior Daily Living
Advanta Home Care of San Diego, California provides top quality non-medical home care services with dedicated and compassionate companion aids/caregivers. They provide home care, elder care, live-in care, respite care, personal care, comanion care, errands, shopping,transportation to appointments, home helper and senior helper services and many other types of non-medical senior care at affordable prices. A locally owned and operated company in La Mesa, California serving San Diego County.
Please call us when you or your loved one needs help at 619-461-2323
Why do we fall?
One of the greatest fears among senior citizens is the fear of falling.This fear is not an irrational fear. Falling is a primary catalyst for hospital admissions among seniors. Many of the seniors admitted to a hospital after a fall, never go home. In fact, falls are responsible for over 40 % of nursing home admissions. Even worse, 70 % of accidental deaths in people over 75 years of age are caused by falls. Falling can be caused by many factors. Some are internal, such as slowed reflexes, balance disorders, low blood pressure, visual deficits, etc. Other causes are external factors such as poor lighting or the effects of medications. Some of these reasons are not particular to seniors.In fact, younger people also fall, but the consequences of falling are much less severe
for younger people.
What can you do?
There is much that can be done to prevent debilitating falls. The first step is to make an honest assessment of the risk you have. The self-assessment in this brochure is a great way to start. If you score higher than a six (6) on the self-assessment, then you should take advantage of our FREE Risk Assessment Interview. This interview is conducted in your home, with your family present. Included with the interview is a Home Safety Inspection. Based on the assessment we will recommend a course of action.
The Facts about Falling:
- Falling is one of the greatest fears
among seniors. - One in three older adults living at
home falls each year (this considers
only those falls that result in
reported medical care). - Falling is a cause in 70 % of accidental
deaths among people 75
years of age and higher. - Falling causes $70 billion in medical
costs each year. - The human costs are even greater,
as individuals, caregivers and families
are all impacted by a fall. - Falling is a catalyst for 40 % of all
nursing home admissions. - Fear of falling leads to lost confidence
and increased inactivity. - Most falls could have been
prevented.
Download our Fall Risk Self Assesment brochure here.
Tags: free elderly care information, free home care information
The Impact of Falling
Each year, more than one out of every three seniors in America seek some sort of medical help because of a fall. Even more seniors fall each year and are not injured. Taking these statistics into account, it is likely that you, or someone you know, will fall some time in the near future.
Falling can be caused by many factors. Some are internal, such as slowed reflexes, balance disorders, low blood pressure, visual deficits, etc. Other causes are external factors such as poor lighting or the effects of medications. Some of these reasons are not particular to seniors. In fact, younger people also fall, but the consequences of falling are much less severe for younger people.
One of the greatest fears amongst senior citizens is the fear of falling. This fear is not an irrational fear. Falling is a primary catalyst for hospital admissions amongst seniors. Many of the seniors admitted to a hospital never go home. In fact, falls are responsible for over 40% of nursing home admissions. Even worse, 70% of accidental deaths in people over 75 years of age are caused by falls.
What to Do If You Fall
DO NOT PANIC! Remain calm and assess the situation. Overreaction to a fall may cause more injury than the fall itself. Take a few minutes to determine if you are hurt. Do not attempt to get up if you feel you are injured.
Tips to Follow If You Believe You Are Hurt:
- Use your emergency alarm if you are wearing one. If you do not have an alarm call out for help or crawl or slide to your telephone and dial 911.
- Move to a soft surface such as a carpet if you have fallen on a hard surface such as tile or a wooden floor. You may have to crawl or slide yourself to move.
- Keep yourself warm until help arrives. You may consider storing a small blanket and a bottle of water in a low cupboard or tucked behind furniture in each room you typically occupy. The blanket will help prevent hypothermia (decrease in body temperature) and the water will prevent dehydration.
- Move – lying in one place too long may cause pressure sores and/or hypothermia. Rolling side to side will unload your body weight and may prevent pressure sores from developing. Moving your arms and legs, if possible, will help you maintain body temperature until help arrives.
Download our fall recovery brochure here. Complete with a Fall Prevention questionaire.
Tags: free elderly care information, free home care information
Signs and Symptoms:
The first sign of osteoporosis is usually a fracture that may occur without a fall or trauma to the fracture site. Wrist fractures are very common in the presence of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis may also cause generalized aches, pains and discomfort when sitting or standing, loss of height, often associated with curvature of the spine or Dowager’s Hump, and unexplained tooth loss and loosening of dentures.
What You Can Do:
The foundation for healthy bone begins early and continues throughout life. You can improve your bone health by adhering to the following keys to prevent and treat osteoporosis:
- Increase Your Calcium Intake
- Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Avoid Heavy Alcohol Use
- Stop or Limit Smoking
- Exercise
The Key to Prevention:
Of the things you can do to improve your bone health, exercise is one of the most powerful. A program of regular exercise that provides a training stimulus with forces greater than those provided by routine activity will result in healthy bone, improved muscular strength and power, better balance, postural stability, and improved ability to recover from instability.
What We Can Do For You:
Our mission is to help you and your loved ones remain independent and living at home as long as possible. As is pointed out in this brochure, osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of loss of independence for seniors. We can help you to combat osteoporosis and its debilitating effects by providing you with qualified, trained professionals
who work in your home. These professionals can help you design and carry out an exercise program geared toward
combating the progression of osteoporosis. These professionals can also assist you in minimizing the risk of experiencing one of the debilitating consequences of osteoporosis, such as falling. They will do this by assisting you with the household chores and errands, as well as by monitoring the environment in the home in an effort to
promote safety.
Call us today and we will
provide you, or your loved one,
with a FREE, In-Home,
Fall Risk Assessment and
Home Safety Check.
Download our free brochure here. Complete with a self assesment sheet.
Tags: free elderly care information, free home care information
Have you ever heard a doctor use the words diagnosis and prognosis and wonder what the difference was? Although they sound alike, they refer to different aspects of the medical condition you or your loved one is experiencing.
A diagnosis is the decision the doctor makes about what the illness is. When you first tell the doctor what problems or symptoms a loved one has, he uses them as clues to determine the illness causing them. Just like a detective, the doctor has to sort out the facts. He performs an examination and often orders special tests to confirm or eliminate his suspicions. Finally, he is able to diagnose, or name, the condition.
Medical conditions can be broken down into several categories.
- A chronic, progressive, or degenerative disease (i.e., Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, Osteoporosis)
- A life- threatening illness (i.e., Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke)
- A medical condition requiring surgery (i.e., Internal bleeding, Cataracts )
- A medical risk or concern (i.e., High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure)
- An injury or illness (i.e., Broken Bone, Flu)
Once the doctor determines what illness is causing the problem, she can plan a treatment program. Then, she goes one step farther and tells us what progress we can expect to make from that treatment. Based on the doctor’s understanding of the medical condition, the typical success rate of the treatment, and our age, physical condition and a number of other indicators, the doctor predicts how we will progress over time. This prediction of progress is called a prognosis.
It can be upsetting and sometimes shocking to receive a diagnosis of disease, whether we expect it or not. But in addition to the shock comes the realization that our loved one may face new challenges and have to learn new ways of living, sometimes temporarily, sometimes long term. Questions flood our minds… What do we do now? How can I help? What support and care will he need?
When trying to decide what support your loved one needs, it’s important to fully understand the prognosis. How will this medical condition and its treatment affect my loved one? Ask the doctor about how she thinks the condition will affect his/her ability in the following areas:
- Physical strength
- Mobility, coordination, reflexes
- Hygiene and personal care
- Sight, hearing
- Memory and reasoning
- Decision making
- Anxiety and fear management
- Activities and favorite pass-times
- Medication maintenance
- Ability to live independently
These limitations may increase or diminish over time depending on the ailment. Most medical conditions develop in one of three ways.
- A sudden, unexpected onset from which, with proper treatment, the person is expected to make a complete recovery. (broken bone, ear infection )
- A sudden, unexpected onset of an illness that will progress over time (Heart failure or a stroke)
- A condition that occurs gradually and is expected to progress over time (Alzheimer’s disease, Osteoporosis, Arthritis)
Once you understand your loved one’s limitations and the likely progression of the ailment, you can make better decisions about a care program for him.
In addition to consulting with the doctor about the specific circumstances of your situation, it often helps to do additional research about the condition you are facing. Many national organizations exist that provide information about various medical conditions, and they can also refer you to resources and support services available in your area. Don’t be shy or afraid to reach out to professionals who can help. Contact any organizations that apply to your loved one’s situation. The table below lists several organizations that offer information about many major medical conditions.
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National Health Organizations
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Alzheimer’s Association
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800-272-3900
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American Cancer Society
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800-227-2345
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American Diabetes Association
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800-342-2383
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American Heart Association
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800-242-8721
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American Lung Association
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800-548-8252
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American Stroke Association
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888-478-7653
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Arthritis Foundation
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800-283-7800
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Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
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800-955-4572
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National Osteoporosis Foundation
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202-223-2226
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Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
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202-223-2226
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Advanta Home Care of San Diego, California provides top quality non-medical home care services with dedicated and compassionate companion aids/caregivers. They provide home care, elder care, live-in care, respite care, personal care, comanion care, errands, shopping,transportation to appointments, home helper and senior helper services and many other types of non-medical senior care at affordable prices. A locally owned and operated company in La Mesa, California serving San Diego County. Please call us when you or your loved one needs help at 619-461-2323.
As we age, we naturally have difficulty remembering things or finding the right words to say. This is normal. However, Dementia is not normal. The condition causes mental changes that make it difficult to function and carry out our normal lives, not just remember names and dates.
Dementia causes a decline in mental functioning, particularly memory, which makes what was once a simple task into an impossible challenge. There is difficulty finding the right words, and confusion sets in when there are too many tasks at once. There can be a change in personality that leads to aggression, paranoia, inappropriate or bizarre behavior, or depression.
Dementia in the elderly can take on two different forms; reversible and chronic. When symptoms are reversible, the short-term dementia has been caused by other illnesses or diseases. The National Institute on Aging has classified 100 conditions that can cause short-term dementia. These are often called “pseudodementias”, and are treatable. Some examples include:
Adverse reactions to Medications- Side effects mimicking dementia are most commonly caused by antiarthritic medications, anihypertensizes, neuroleptics, hypnotics, and sedatives. Make sure your doctor is monitoring all your medications, including over-the-counter.
Emotional Distress - Seniors face a tremendous amount of changes in their lives, sometimes abrupt. Retirement, loss of a loved one or pet, divorce, change in location; all of these can cause depression, anxiety, and can damage physical and mental health. Make sure your physician is informed of these stressors in your life.
Metabolic Disturbances - Electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia, hepatic diseases, pancreatic disorders, renal failure, or liver failure can also cause confusion and effect sleep, appetite, and emotional balance.
Hearing and Vision - Problems with sight and hearing can be misinterpreted as Dementia when a person loses the ability to fully perceive their surroundings as they used to. Perform hearing and eye examinations if this seems to be the case.
Nutritional Imbalances - Deficiencies of niacin, folate, thiamine, or riboflavin can create impairment of cognition. Clear markers of this include difficulty swallowing, chewing, or digesting food. Loss of the ability to smell, taste, or eat due to dentures or trouble shopping can all contribute to nutritional deficiencies.
Other possible causes of acute dementia include: Endocrine abnormalities, infections, Subdural Hematoma (blood clotting on the brain’s surface), brain tumors, and Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
There are also conditions that cause permanent cognitive dysfunction. They include: head traumas, Cerebral Degenerative Diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s chorea.
Full medical and neuro-phychological testing is needed to diagnose dementia. CAT scans and MRI’s are usually part of this process. Also the newer PET scans and SPECT scans, which are harder to find. These processes will find whatever may be a treatable cause of acute dementia.
Chronic and irreversible dementia requires special care, however. This usually comes in the form of Behavior management techniques, safety precautions within the home, and legal considerations like durable power of attorney. Care is often provided in the home, but in some instances special arrangements need to be made for out of home care.
By Senior Daily Living
Tags: Alzheimer's, dementia. memory loss
