Dementia Specialists

Coping With Dementia

Dementia is the loss of cognitive abilities, which can include memory, speech, use of limbs, ability to make judgments and other symptoms. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 adults over 65 have some symptoms of dementia, with about 70% of those cases resulting from Alzheimer’s disease.

A Proactive Approach

Almost half of all patients in nursing homes have some level of dementia. About 10% of patients in hospice care have a primary diagnosis of dementia, and the number is growing. There is currently no medication to completely treat or cure dementia, but nearly all people with dementia can benefit from some form of therapy. We help our patients make sensory connections, like listening to music or sounds from nature, being touched or massaged, or participating in activities they enjoyed previously. It’s been shown that these techniques can soothe patients with dementia, making them less agitated and more receptive to care.

Our Staff

 
Members of our staff have been trained as Dementia Specialists. The voluntary training takes place over several weeks and emphasizes the importance of paying close attention to the patient’s personality to find better ways to care for them. Our Dementia Specialists understand how to adapt their care to each patient’s precise needs. Dementia Specialists are able to pick up on subtle clues that can make all the difference to the patient.