Early on in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:

• Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
• Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.
• Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
• Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.
• When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
• Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
• Use a sturdy shower chair to support an unsteady person and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.
• Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.
• Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.

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We’ve all been there before. We can’t find our keys or remember what we went into the next room to get. But when memory loss starts to interfere with your daily life and is happening more often, it could be a sign of something more.

Know when to seek help

Memory loss that is getting worse and interferes with your daily life is not a normal part of aging. Memory lapses—like getting lost while driving on your familiar route to the grocery store or having trouble recalling very recent events—could be something more serious to discuss with a healthcare provider.

A growing problem

The most common sign of dementia is severe memory loss that tends to get worse over time. Dementia can be caused by a variety of conditions, but Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause. An estimated 6.7 million older adults have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, and that number is expected to double by 2060.1 The biggest increases will be among adults belonging to certain racial and ethnic minority groups.

Memory loss that is getting worse or more frequent can be an early warning sign of dementia, but not all people with worsening memory loss will go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

A recent CDC study found that:

• 1 in 10 US adults 45 years and older reported worsening memory loss.
• Adults with at least a college education were less likely to report worsening memory loss than those with less formal education.
• Patterns of worsening memory loss varied across the United States, with more people reporting it in Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, and West Virginia than in any other state.
• Less than half of adults who reported worsening memory loss had discussed it with a healthcare provider.

Fortunately, it’s possible to reduce your risk of worsening memory loss and, potentially, dementia later in life. An important first step is talking to your healthcare provider, who can suggest healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk, such as staying physically active, maintaining strong social connections, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Your provider can also help to rule out other physical or mental causes of memory loss.

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A caregiver sometimes referred to as a caretaker, refers to anyone who provides care for another person. Millions of people living in the United States take care of a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Sometimes caregivers live with the person or nearby, other times they live far away. For many families, caring for a person with dementia isn’t just one person’s job, but the role of many people who share tasks and responsibilities. No matter what kind of caregiver you are, taking care of another person can be overwhelming at times. These tips and suggestions may help with everyday care and tasks.

Tips for Everyday Care for People with Dementia

Early on in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:

• Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
• Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.
• Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
• Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.
• When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
• Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
• Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.
• Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.
• Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.

The post Tips for Caregivers and Families of People with Dementia appeared first on C-Medisolutions.

As we age, our brains change, but Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, up to 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. It helps to understand what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to brain health.

Normal brain aging may mean slower processing speeds and more trouble multitasking, but routine memory, skills, and knowledge are stable and may even improve with age. It’s normal to occasionally forget recent events such as where you put your keys or the name of the person you just met.

When It Might Be Lewy Body Dementia

In the United States, 6.2 million people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. People with dementia have symptoms of cognitive decline that interfere with daily life—including disruptions in language, memory, attention, recognition, problem-solving, and decision-making. Signs to watch for include:

• Not being able to complete tasks without help.
• Trouble naming items or close family members.
• Forgetting the function of items.
• Repeating questions.
• Taking much longer to complete normal tasks.
• Misplacing items often.
• Being unable to retrace steps and getting lost.

7 Ways to Help Maintain Your Brain Health

Studies show that healthy behaviors, which can prevent some kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease may also reduce your risk for cognitive decline. Although age, genetics, and family history can’t be changed, the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care suggest that addressing risk factors may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.

Here’s what you can do:

• Quit smoking. Quitting smoking now may help maintain brain health and can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. Free quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Tens of millions of American adults have high blood pressure, and many do not have it under control. Learn the facts.
• Be physically active. CDC studies show physical activity can improve thinking, reduce the risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better. Here are tips to help you get started.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. Instead, it’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.
• Get enough sleep. A third of American adults report that they usually get less sleep than the recommended amount. How much sleep do you need? It depends on your age.
• Stay engaged. There are many ways for older adults to get involved in their community.
• Manage blood sugar. Learn how to manage your blood sugar especially if you have diabetes.

Conditions That Can Mimic Dementia

Symptoms of some vitamin deficiencies and medical conditions such as vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or normal pressure hydrocephalus (a neurological condition caused by the build-up of fluid in the brain) can mimic dementia. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause dementia-like symptoms. If you have these symptoms, it is important to talk to your health care provider to find out if there are any underlying causes for these symptoms.

What To Do if a Loved One is Showing Symptoms

Talk with your loved one about seeing a health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia to get a brain health check-up.

When the timing is right, talk about issues related to safety including driving and carrying identification. Symptoms of dementia include getting lost in familiar places, difficulty judging distance, determining color or contrast, and reading which can make driving especially difficult.

Help your loved one start gathering important documents such as their advanced health care directive or living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and financial or estate planning documents. CDC has a Care Planning Form available to download at no cost.

Schedule a family meeting. When caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness, family meetings are important to ensure information is shared, to put care plans in place, and to help divide tasks among family members. Here are some tips and strategies to help plan a productive family meeting which includes setting goals, planning, coordination, and follow-up.

Be Empowered to Discuss Memory Problems

More than half of people with memory loss have not talked to their healthcare provider, but that doesn’t have to be you. Get comfortable with starting a dialogue with your health care provider if you observe any changes in memory, an increase in confusion, or just if you have any questions. You can also discuss health care planning, management of chronic conditions, and caregiving needs.

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