Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
As we grow older, some memory loss is normal as result of physical changes in the aging brain. Some older adults, however, may suffer a level of memory loss that damages their most cherished memories and makes the world a confusing and frightening place. And many may even find ways to hide or compensate for their cognitive decline for years or decades.
Dementia is a broad term for a set of symptoms that result in impaired thinking and memory. Alzheimer's disease is a common type of dementia, but there are several others (including Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease). Symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Impaired judgment
- Depression
- Personality changes
- Problems with balance and coordination
Different forms of dementia progress in different ways. The experience of dementia is different for everyone, and that experience can change day to day, or even hour to hour. For seniors and their loved ones alike, dementia can be difficult to understand and accept. Enlivant is here to help you learn more about caring for seniors with dementia.