Starting at age 65, people may begin to show some symptoms of dementia, so it is important to know how to take care of them. Dementia does not refer to a specific type of disease, but it is a general term used to refer to more than 80 types of diseases that cause a serious deterioration of cognitive ability.
This loss of cognitive function can be due to different causes, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, brain lesions, brain tumors, alcohol abuse, changes in sugar, calcium and sodium levels or low levels. Level of vitamin B12 .
How to care for an elderly person with dementia at home?
While it is true that in general we cannot say that dementia (especially the Alzheimer type) has a cure, but if there are some medications that can alter its evolution slowing down, you always have to consult a doctor and know the causes of this loss of abilities, since, in addition, there are certain medications that can soften the symptoms of patients.
If you are going to take charge of a person with dementia , you should know that this type of illness causes , in many cases, changes in behavior, increasing in many cases aggression, agitation and negativity; and causing difficulty in making decisions, spatial disorientation, communication, and in most cases, memory loss.
Taking all this into account, when caring for a person with dementia, you should be taking charge, little by little, of some basic activities of daily life such as money management or driving the car, so that they avoid unnecessary risks. It is also important that you do not lose patience with this person, since it will only serve to make you more nervous.
To maintain a quality lifestyle, you must perform a series of physical exercises such as walks or dancing so that the body of your care is active and healthy. It is also beneficial to develop exercises that keep the brain active as riddles, story stories or meetings with family and friends that will make you feel more integrated.
When memory is affected, sometimes people with dementia forget to eat and drink water, so meals should be monitored so that there is no malnutrition or dehydration that leads to hospital admission.
Prevention of dementia
It is true that some of the causes of dementia cannot be avoided , such as age or family history. However, there are many factors that we can prevent such as alcohol consumption, smoking, cardiovascular risk factors and diet.
Do not forget that it is essential to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle to avoid problems and degenerative diseases, and in case you feel any symptoms, do not hesitate to go to your doctor to make recognition and thus prevent any future problem.
If you are taking care of a person with dementia, remember that you are not alone, you can count on numerous foundations specialized in all types of dementia, and in addition, you can call on the help of medical professionals who will not hesitate to help you in whatever you need.
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