Mr. Sharma (name changed), a retired Grade A officer with one of the departments of the Government of India, now 78, lives with his wife in the home that they built after his retirement.
Mrs. Sharma has always been a home maker , and feels that she is now taking care of another child at home referring to her husband of 51 years. Mr. Sharma was diagnosed with dementia in late 2016, making Mrs. Sharma his primary care giver.
Dementia takes away the memories of our loved ones but they still need/deserve a good quality of life. The primary caregiver has to put in a lot of effort to provide them that quality of life which will benefit the elderly’s mental and physical condition. One can help them set up a routine, engage them with mind stimulation and encourage them to do physical exercises these will prove to be very beneficial for our loved ones.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (LBD) is known known to be another major cause of Dementia. Being relatively less prevalent than Alzheimer’s, it has not typically attracted as much research in the past. However, LBD has been gaining interest in research and here we look at some of the more recent research findings when it comes of Lewy Bodies Dementia.
Dementia is a group of neurological and progressive symptoms which is generally seen in older people. The symptoms worsen over time and gradually the person’s capacity to take care of himself or herself on their own starts to decrease. A risk factor can be anything that increases the likelihood of developing a particular condition.
The sensory functions of elders deteriorate as they grow older. Sensory activities improve the emotional and physical health of people living with dementia.
Sensory stimulation is the activation of one or more of the senses such as taste, smell, vision, hearing and touch.
In recent times, Multi-Sensory Stimulation (MSS) has become a progressively popular approach to care and it is used in a large number of Dementia Care Centres.
Socialization is important for all of us. Throughout our lives, we interact with friends, family, and strangers on a daily basis. We are a social species and our brains are designed to yearn for relationships and other social interactions. The need and the habit of mixing with people stays till the end because it comes naturally to us.
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Dementia is a neuro-degenerative brain disorder which makes the patient’s behavior more challenging as it progresses. The common issues are wandering, pacing, bathing, sun downing, agitation, hallucinations etc. However, the situation and the triggers for every patient may vary, but through some behavior modification by the family or caregiver it can be managed.
One of the biggest challenges for people who are taking care of a spouse or elderly parent with any form of dementia is dealing with sudden outbursts of agitation and aggression. Most people with dementia undergo behavioral changes during the course of the disease. Depending on their personalities and experiences they may become anxious or repeat the same question or activity many times.
As caregivers, we are well aware of the powerful range of emotions felt by us and our loved one with dementia. People with dementia fluctuate between many different behaviors and moods ranging from being excited and cheerful, to sadness, crying and aggression. As we struggle in our attempt to deal with these mood changes, many of these negative mood states can transfer to us. They typically show up as sadness, anger, frustration and exhaustion.
The holiday season is just getting over and I cannot help but reflect on how my elderly clients have spent their time in during these festive days.