Many people immediately think of Alzheimer’s disease when they hear the term “dementia”. While Alzheimer’s disease makes up 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases throughout the United
States, making it the most common type of dementia, it is not the only type.
In fact, there are several conditions that fall under the blanket term dementia. As a family caregiver, it is extremely important for you to understand the differentiations so that you can give your aging parent the level of care that is appropriate for the type of dementia that they experience. One such form is dementia with Lewy bodies, also known as Lewy Body Dementia, or LBD.
Lewy body dementia
While not as well-known as some other forms of dementia, LBD is not truly a rare condition. In fact, there are approximately 1.4 million people throughout the nation who are currently living with this disease. The primary characteristic of this disease is the presence of Lewy bodies, or clumps of proteins, that form on the brain.
It is important to note that the term “LBD” is also often applied to Parkinson’s disease because those with this disease also develop Lewy bodies on their brain. The timing of the onset of dementia in the context of other symptoms of the disease determines whether a person will be diagnosed specifically with dementia with Lewy bodies or with Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of lewy body dementia
Symptoms of LBD include:
- Diminished cognitive functioning
- Decreased attention span
- Marked memory impairment
- Complex visual hallucinations that tend to be very well-formed, detailed, and recurrent
- REM sleep behavior disorder, which may actually develop several years after the initial onset of the dementia
- Increased instances of falls
- Recurrent fainting spells
- Transient periods of unconsciousness that cannot be explained by other conditions or issues
- Hallucinations that impact the other senses, such as taste, hearing, or smell
- Psychiatric concerns
It is important that your aging parent gets an accurate diagnosis so that they receive the proper treatment. If you notice strange behaviors and symptoms in your aging parent, contact their doctor as soon as possible so that they can get the attention that they need to handle their particular needs.
If your aging parent has been suffering from dementia, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting Home health care for them. Trusted Touch Healthcare can customize a care plan to ensure that your loved one gets the level of care, support, and assistance that they need.
A nursing care plan will detail the care needed to manage their symptoms and focus on staying safe, healthy, comfortable, and active. Through these highly personalized services, our caregivers will encourage your loved one to maintain as much independence as possible while handling their symptoms in the way that is right for them.
Home care supports a more fulfilling quality of life throughout their later years. As a family caregiver this can help you to feel more confident that even when your senior is dealing with challenging symptoms and you are not able to be with them, they will get everything that they need to live the lifestyle that they desire while still managing their disease properly and effectively.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Chevy Chase, MD to help with memory loss issues, please contact the compassionate staff at Trusted Touch Healthcare today. We make seniors’ lives better! Call today (301) 272-5140.
Sources:
http://www.alz.org/dementia/types-of-dementia.asp
