Differentiating Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Many people use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” interchangeably, which would seem to indicate that they are one and the same. However, they are not. These are two different conditions although they do have similarities. Just because a person has dementia does not necessarily mean that they have Alzheimer’s disease.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a set of symptoms rather than a specific disease. People may experience forgetfulness, poor judgment, language difficulties, or confusion about time or place. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms and there can be different causes. While Alzheimer’s is one potential cause of dementia, others include vitamin deficiency, drug interactions, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Other forms of dementia include Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Vascular Dementia. Depending on the cause, some of these conditions can be treated and possibly even reversed.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive brain disease that often causes dementia. It has a specific set of symptoms. Though researchers are not entirely sure what causes Alzheimer’s they have found links to abnormal amounts of protein and plaque buildup in the brain. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Symptoms include:

• Poor memory and asking the same questions repetitively
• Changes in personality
• Getting lost even in familiar places
• Trouble managing money and responsibilities
•  Poor sense of time

Contrary to what many believe, it is not a normal part of aging. Not everyone develops Alzheimer’s. Unlike dementia which can impact various parts of the brain, Alzheimer’s impairs those parts that control memory, language, and thought.

Coping with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

There are many different ways to support seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is important to have an accurate diagnosis. The doctor can conduct a variety of tests to determine whether cognitive issues and other symptoms are caused by Alzheimer’s or another disease. They may be able to prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms and help seniors to function more normally and independently. In other cases they may be able to slow the progression or take steps to enhance quality of life.

Hiring an in-home care provider can support seniors in living more safely and comfortably with dementia or Alzheimer’s. They will have someone there to assist with activities of daily living such as managing medication, paying bills, doing light housekeeping, getting into or out of bed each day, preparing meals, or running errands. A caregiver can also be a positive source of socialization and companionship and is trained in responding to symptoms and keeping seniors safe and calm.

If the doctor does diagnose dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another condition, ask for more clarification and additional information for providing effective care. Don’t get confused thinking they are all the same. To learn more about in-home care services, contact Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville today at (828) 989-7263 or visit us online.

Improving Safety for Seniors with Dementia

Dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be challenging both for caregivers and those living with the condition. As loved ones become more confused and disoriented or have trouble keeping their balance and making good choices, their safety becomes a greater concern. Families want to ensure they maintain as much independence as possible while also reducing risk of danger. Here are a few ways to keep your senior safer:

• Lock up medications and supplements so that they cannot be accidentally consumed. The same goes for any toxic substances such as cleaning products. Keep these items out of sight and out of reach unless someone is there to supervise.
• Use appliances with auto shut offs so that they cannot be left on unintentionally. If the stove or oven are a concern, remove the knobs when they are not being used or install a shut off breaker to cut power or gas and prevent your senior from turning them on.
• Lower water temperature to prevent burns. It can be difficult for those with dementia to differentiate between temperatures, so limit how hot the water can get.
• Install door locks or alarms if wandering is an issue. Not every senior with dementia wanders, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 out of 10 do. Place locks out of sight and out of reach. Have a bell or alarm to notify you when doors are opened and closed so you can be more aware of when someone enters or exits.
• Get an alert bracelet with your loved one’s name, address, and phone number that also notes they have dementia or Alzheimer’s. Should they wander, this can make it easier for someone to get in touch when they are found. You could also consider using a GPS system, such as tracking their phone or another safety device.
• Maintain a routine so that the person knows what to expect and stays occupied. This can reduce agitation and risk of wandering. It also helps to keep them familiarized with their surroundings and what to do.
• Reduce clutter in the home to prevent tripping and make navigating easier. Installing grab bars, anti-slip surfaces, and improved lighting can help as well. Consider things from their point of view and look for any situations that may be potentially hazardous.
• Arrange for in-home care to provide your loved one with assistance tailored to their needs. A caregiver can help them with meal preparation and household tasks as well as taking them out into the community to run errands, attend events, or meet with friends. This can improve safety and reduce risk of wandering.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s does not have to mean that your loved one must give up doing things they enjoy. Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville provides high quality dementia care services that can support your loved one in maintaining their independence as much as possible while staying safe. Contact Always Best Care at (828) 989-7263 to schedule a free consultation.

Living with Dementia: What is Sundown Syndrome?

Dementia can change the way that not only seniors, but their family, live. It means planning ahead and taking more care in communicating and interacting. Some families may notice that their loved one tends to get more agitated or disoriented in the evening than during other times of the day. This is a condition that is often referred to as sundown or sundowner syndrome. Sometimes it is called sundowning. As the name implies, it generally occurs around the time the sun goes down and there is less light.

Not everyone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease experiences sundown syndrome and doctors aren’t entirely sure yet what causes it. It can even occur in those without these conditions. They believe it has to do with the body’s circadian rhythm. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may have a shift in their internal clock that contributes to these changes in mood and behavior. Environmental and social factors may play a part as well.

Symptoms of sundown syndrome include:

• Confusion
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Pacing
• Disorientation
• Yelling
• Mood swings
• Restlessness

These symptoms may be triggered by too much activity during the day or changes in routine, fatigue, decreased light, hunger or thirst, or sleep problems. It can vary from person to person, but generally these symptoms become more noticeable in the late afternoon or evening hours.

Coping with Sundown Syndrome

Because it is not well known what causes the condition, methods of treating or preventing it are not as clear cut either. Seniors may respond differently to various approaches. Finding what works best for your loved one is key. You may have to try several things.

• Keeping a routine: Try to stick to a similar schedule each day. This includes wake and sleep times, meal times, and regular activities. Plan for more rigorous activities in the morning when your loved one is feeling better and more alert. Avoid naps during the day as this can contribute to sleep problems at night. A routine also helps to reduce confusion because your aging parent knows what to expect.
• Increasing light: Make the most of available light and keep rooms well lit in the evening hours. Night lights can help if they need to get up in the middle of the night. With more light, it can make navigating easier and help curb vision issues.
• Eating a well-balanced diet: Getting the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients as well as keeping stable blood sugar levels can support better health. This can help to reduce imbalances in the body and moderate mood. Avoid too much caffeine as well because it is a stimulant
• Create a quiet environment: Especially at night, try to reduce the amount of noise and activity that occurs. Encouraging relaxation and calmness at night can reduce agitation and irritability.

Having an in-home caregiver during these peak hours can make it easier for your senior to cope. The caregiver can maintain their regular routine, ensure they’re eating properly, and provide companionship and a reassuring presence. This can make evenings less stressful and more comfortable. Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville provides dementia care to assist your loved one in maintaining their independence in a safe and enjoyable way. Contact us at (828) 989-7263 or visit us online to find out more about how we can help.

Warning Signs that Could Indicate Dementia

Dementia is not a single disease, but rather a collection of symptoms. These symptoms include decline in memory, thinking, and communication that impact daily living. Contrary to what some people believe, this is not a normal part of aging, and not all memory problems are the result of dementia. However, recognizing warning signs can help you to be more proactive in your senior’s health and seek necessary care. Here are some signs to be aware of:

Confused by the time and place. Those with dementia often have trouble recalling the day of the week, date, or time. They may not remember where they are or how they got there. In addition, they may not be aware of how much time has passed.

Trouble completing tasks. Problems with memory and thinking can make it more difficult to complete daily tasks. Usually the struggle appears first with more complex activities that require more planning or problem solving. It may take them much longer to do things or they may need multiple reminders or prompts. Following recipes or balancing their checkbook can become more difficult and they may make multiple errors.

Word finding difficulties. You may notice that your loved one has trouble coming up with familiar words for different items or does not use the correct word. Or they may lose their place in the middle of a conversation or repeat the same thing over again. Dementia can also make it more difficult to follow along in a conversation or story and recall what is happening.

Leaving things in unusual places. Have you found their glasses in the cabinet or the remote in the refrigerator? Trouble with memory can lead to misplacing items and having trouble retracing steps to find them. Your loved one may even accuse others of stealing if they are unable to find things.

Changing mood or personality. Dementia can affect judgment and behavior. The person may become more easily agitated or confused. They may withdraw from activities or act out of character. Confusion may lead them to become anxious or fearful of going out or engaging in different activities.

Short term memory problems. Memory loss often begins with trouble remembering things in the short term – what they ate for lunch or why they went to a certain place. They may have little trouble remembering things from years past, but difficulty recalling the past few days.

While not all memory, thinking, or communication problems are indicative of dementia, they are worth paying attention to. If you notice several signs or that your loved one seems to be struggling more than usual, it may be time to seek help. Early detection can help you to better support your loved one and take preventive or precautionary measures.

The Importance of Home Care for Those With Dementia

Dealing with dementia can be tough on a family. It’s heartbreaking to watch an elderly loved one struggle to accomplish tasks that they once completed easily. Additionally, it can also put a serious strain on the caretaker, who is probably busy with work, children, and other commitments. When it comes to senior care, the professionals of Always Best Care Asheville-Hendersonville explain that hiring someone to assist your loved one is often the best way to ensure that they enjoy a high quality of life.

It’s simply not possible for you to attend to your elderly loved one’s needs on a daily basis, while also caring for your children, working, and maintaining a relationship with your spouse. For this reason, seeking assistance from an eldercare professional will become essential. Even if this person only stops by a few days each week, their help takes a serious burden off of family members, and ensures that the senior has everything they need to live well.

How home care can help

Despite their struggles with dementia, it’s likely that your elderly loved one will still crave their independence. To satisfy your senior without putting their health or safety at risk, home care is a must. Your elderly loved one gets to stay in their own space, but doesn’t have to worry about going grocery shopping, remembering to take their medication, or cleaning up the house. 

Studies show that a technique known as “graded assistance” can be highly beneficial for seniors with dementia. Graded assistance is essentially a way to help an elderly individual accomplish a task with the least amount of aid possible. Home care professionals rely on verbal prompts, physical guidance, and partial physical assistance in order to help the senior function without feeling as if they are helpless. If your senior is particularly resistant to the idea of home care or help in general, this approach may be ideal. 

Other effective care strategies for seniors with dementia

Music is also a powerful tool to soothe seniors who are facing dementia. It is common for elderly individuals with dementia to lash out and display aggressive behavior. Studies show that music can help to soothe these undesirable behaviors, while also helping your elderly loved one to relax. If your senior is particularly passionate about a type of music, play a few songs for them when they begin to become irritable or agitated.

While it’s never easy to watch a loved one deal with the effects of dementia, proper home care and an understanding of the condition allow you to do your part to keep your elderly loved one well cared for. 

Nine Foods to Help Prevent Dementia

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association says that one out of three seniors die with Alzheimer’s, although that is not necessarily the cause of death. While research is still ongoing about how to stave off Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, some research suggests that certain foods may help protect against mental decline and even prevent brain-wasting diseases. Alzheimer’s is identified with inflammation, so the thinking is that foods with anti-inflammatory properties may be able to delay age-related cognitive disorders. Nine commonly available foods could help prevent mental deterioration, and they even taste good.

1. Dark chocolate. Studies show that the flavonoids in cocoa increase blood flow to the brain and may help to protect against conditions that reduce cerebral blood flow, such as dementia and stroke.
2. Red wine. Drinking wine in moderation can protect cognitive function and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This is due to the high levels of flavonoids and possibly other polyphenolics such as resveratrol in red wine.
3. Clams. It’s thought that when vitamin B12 levels are low, blood levels of homocysteine will raise, significantly increasing the risk for dementia, heart attack and other ailments. Clams contain 98.9 micrograms of vitamin B12 in just a 100-gram serving, or 1,648 percent of the recommended dietary allowance.
4. Asparagus. One study found that individuals who were deficient in folate, a form of vitamin B9, were 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia. One cup of asparagus will take care of nearly 66 percent of your daily folate needs.
5. Wild salmon. According to one study, an average of three servings of oily fish a week adds up to an almost 50 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The reason is the omega-3 fatty acid and other nutrients such as vitamin D and B12 can help to prevent neurodegenerative disorders.
6. Walnuts. In moderation, walnuts were found to help improve motor and cognitive skills in older rodents, due, it is believed, to a combination of polyphenols, omega-3 fats and other bioactive substances.
7. Cherries. The antioxidant compounds, anthocyanins, which give cherries their bright red color, possess anti-inflammatory properties that could work like pain medications but without the nasty side effects.
8. Turmeric. A study found that curcumin in turmeric, commonly used in curry dishes, removes plaques from the brain. Plaques are thought to contribute to the degradation of brain cells and lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
9. Apples. The skins of apples contain quercetin, found to protect the brain from damages associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in studies conducted by Cornell University.

Adapted from the Conscious Life.