Dementia has now become one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the elderly; therefore, one must understand the kind of dementia and how much care must be provided to a person with dementia. Dementia has become a generic term covering most kinds of disorders that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Therefore, understanding it can help us properly care for our loved ones. Let’s learn about the types of dementia and how Aayushka provides a care plan for people with dementia.
Understanding Dementia:
Dementia is a general term that describes a decline in cognitive ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. It’s not a specific disease but a collection of symptoms that may arise from various conditions. This disorder affects patients’ memory, thinking, behavior, and daily activities. Supportive care for elderly patients who have dementia is therefore essential. Aayushka Assisted Living the best senior citizen homes in Chennai understands the specific condition of Dementia and provides care with specialist attention as per the resident needs.
Common Types Of Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
It is the most common type of dementia where there is a decline in memory, thinking, and behaviour. It often starts with slight forgetfulness or less memory and peaks to severe cognitive impairment. Its causative factor is hardly known, though it is said to be caused by accumulated plaques in the brain.
Vascular Dementia
This form of dementia is caused by low blood flow to the brain, majorly due to stroke or other vascular disease symptoms. Symptoms may vary but often include problems solving a problem, confusion, and problems with memories. We are one of the best memory care homes in Chennai that are built for individuals experiencing these symptoms as they offer special care to reduce memory loss and improve the life quality for seniors with dementia at memory care homes.
Lewy Body Dementia
This type of dementia presents with abnormal accumulation of proteins (Lewy bodies) in the brain, which causes symptoms like hallucinations, memory loss, and changes in alertness. There may also be motor symptoms akin to Parkinson’s disease among Lewy body dementia patients.
Frontotemporal Dementia
It is a form of dementia mostly afflicting the frontal and temporal lobes. It then progresses with drastic changes in personality, behavior, and way of talking. These may include inappropriate behavior, speech difficulty, and memory problems.
Mixed Dementia
In many cases, a person experiences symptoms of more than one type of dementia at once, such as Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. The term for this condition is mixed dementia, often combining symptoms from both the different types.
Care Essentials Of Dementia
The caregiving for dementia encompasses an extensive approach addressing the physical and emotional needs of the affected person. Some care essentials include
Care Plans Tailored To The Individual
Every individual with dementia has different needs. Care plans should be tailored to address specific cognitive and emotional challenges, ensuring that care is personalized to the individual. Aayushka helps in creating personalized care plans for the individuals with dementia which addresses the unique challenges of cognitive and emotional conditions. With our tailored care to the specific needs of our residents, we ensure to provide a compassionate and supportive approach enhancing their overall well-being.
Designing A Safe And Supportive Environment
Safety is a major concern for individuals with dementia. A well-designed living space should minimize risks like falls, wandering, and confusion. It can involve labelling rooms, removing hazards, and proper lighting. Aayushka understands the safety in the case of dementia patients and enhances safety by reducing the hazards with significant steps. We improve safety of the residents by lighting, clear labels to prevent wandering, railings in corridors and bathrooms to prevent falls, and 24/7 staff support for any emergency.
Encouraging Communication And Social Interaction
Social isolation tends to worsen the symptoms of dementia. Group activities, meaningful conversations, and familiar routines should be encouraged to encourage social interaction. Simple and clear communication makes people with dementia feel at ease. At Aayushka Living we foster social interaction through group activities, meaningful conversations, and familiar routines to ensure comfort and engagement among the dementia patients.
Dealing with dementia requires compassion and understanding. It’s possible to enhance the lives of those who have dementia if we try to understand the types of dementia, early symptoms, and care tailored to each individual. We will strive to provide warmth and love to each of our seniors at Aayushka Assisted Living, the best Dementia care homes in Chennai to create a comfortable and fulfilling environment for those with dementia.