Dementia is a well-known word; however, the true meaning is often mistaken. Rather than being a specific condition, dementia is actually a collection of diseases that are related to the brain. Things such as a difficulty to solve problems no matter how simple, trouble with speaking, and recalling the location of items, are all prime examples of dementia-related issues.
For those that did not already know, one of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer’s. Whatever the reason behind it, you may be interested in recognising the typical signs that someone is suffering from it, and how this can be addressed to establish the cost of live in dementia care.
Issues with short-term memory
One of the most obvious signs that indicates that someone is suffering from the onset of dementia, is the deterioration of their short-term memory. For example, whilst a person may be able to vividly recollect the events of their wedding day that occured a decade ago, they might severely struggle with piecing together what happened the day before.
It could be that they are consistently forgetting where they put the keys to their home, or walk into a room and then immediately forget the purpose for their journey. These are all events that, if happening on a regular basis, could mean that full-time care at home could be an option to be looked at.
Sudden mood changes
Whilst it is true that everyone can suffer from a change of mood throughout the day, for people suffering from dementia this tends to be more drastic. Without any trigger, a person with dementia’s mood could instantly swing from jovial and upbeat, to sad and depressed; it is also possible for violent outbursts to occur. If you have a loved one that is exhibiting this type of behaviour, it would be unwise not to consider the various care options that are out there.
Social withdrawal
If you notice that a loved one that has a reputation for being consistently active, has suddenly become reclusive and passive, it could be a sign that they are suffering from dementia. It could be that the individual in question is finding it difficult to connect with anyone, and therefore opt to simply retreat into the safety of their own brain. A lack of proactiveness can also lead to further deterioration of the person’s condition, as stimulation is an excellent way in which to prolong the onset of more severe side-effects.
Speech problems
This is not simply in relation to the person suffering from dementia struggling from talking coherently. Due to the area of the brain in which dementia takes root, it has a profound impact on how well the person in question can process language in general. Aphasia, to give it it’s proper name, is in reference to issues relating to reading and writing, as well as comprehending and putting together speech. It is an extremely common side-effect for those that suffer from dementia.
How can we help?
As one of the leading providers of private respite care, the team here at Safe Hands Live-In Care are well-versed with offering our services in a variety of situations. To us, it does not matter if you are trying to find a live-in care provider to secure your peace of mind by looking after your parents, or are seeking out 24-hour care for someone that is struggling with a disease which affects their mental faculties. Our primary aim is to ensure that older people have access to the quality of life that they deserve. Should you be someone that is looking to learn a little more about the cost of live-in dementia care, or would like to chat to someone about the various levels of care that we are equipped to provide, we would love to hear from you. If you go to our website’s contact page, you can find all the different methods in which you can get in touch with one of our customer service representatives.