Provide a Higher Level of Dementia Care

Common Questions About Dementia

• What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

  Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms, the most commonly thought of being memory loss.

  Alzheimer’s is a disease that falls under this umbrella, but there are also other forms of dementia.

  Not all people diagnosed with dementia have Alzheimer’s. Other forms include Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia.

  Dementia has also been associated with other brain-related diseases such as Parkinson’s.

• How many different forms of dementia are there?

  There are approximately 120 forms, causes and types of dementia.

• Should my staff be able to recognize each form of dementia?

  Despite their differences, dementia and Alzheimer’s are commonly used interchangeably, even by caregivers.

  Your staff should be aware that there are different forms of dementia that require different treatment types.

  Let’s say you have a resident who is experiencing hallucinations. A clinician may consider giving the resident an antipsychotic.

  If the clinician is unaware of different forms of dementia, they may not know that a person with Lewy Body Dementia is likely to have a toxic side-effect from taking those types of medication.

  Lack of knowledge around different types and treatment options can put your residents at risk.

• Why is it so hard for my staff to create care plans for residents experiencing dementia?

  Dementia doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Often those with memory care needs also experience anxiety and depression.

  Since dementia primarily impacts an older, more vulnerable population, it can be compounded with other medical needs such as Parkinson’s or heart disease.

  This is what makes caring for a person experiencing dementia so difficult. With so many potential factors and explanations for a person’s symptoms, it can be difficult for a caregiver to decipher what is causing their patient to act a certain way.

  Is your patient’s lack of desire to eat a presentation of dementia or depression?

  Knowing the most current best practices becomes even more important for your staff. As we continue to learn more about how dementia impacts other medical conditions, we develop better strategies for caring for those with memory care needs.

• What happens when my staff makes a mistake?

  The reality is, if you are caring for a person experiencing dementia, there are going to be mistakes made.

  The key will be for your staff to turn those mistakes into learning opportunities.

  Instead of just moving on, it will be important for your staff to acknowledge that mistake occurred and come up with a solution to prevent it from happening again.