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Dementia & Alzheimer's: It's More Than Just Losing Your Memory

By Rue Nichols


People with dementia, either people who live at home or perhaps in assisted living in San Diego, suffer from more than just memory loss. While losing one's memory is tragic, dementia and Alzheimer's Disease cause other issues as well. If you know someone with any type of dementia, they might also suffer from the following issues.

Sundowner's Syndrome is a problem that affects as many as 20% of people with some type of dementia. This is a syndrome that causes a person to experience extreme restlessness, anxiety, confusion and sometimes anger as the sun sets. It can cause insomnia, as well, and at memory care residents at assisted living in San Diego often will pace around their rooms or wander in the halls simply because they cannot sleep. For those who live with families, they might wander around the house or even yell and lash out at family members.

While doctors are not sure why this syndrome occurs, there are a few strategies that have been successful in reducing issues associated with this problem. For instance, at a facility for assisted living in San Diego, the staff will create a consistent routine for the entire day and evening, keeping residents busy and helping them avoid napping, which makes it easier for a resident to sleep through the night. Avoiding caffeinated drinks later in the day and eating an early dinner also have been shown to help. Ensuring that rooms are well lit also seems to help reduce the stress from which these people suffer.

Delusions and even hallucinations are a problem that sometimes affects those with dementia. A delusion is not the same as a hallucination, and a delusion occurs when a person believes something that is untrue. A person with dementia who suffers from delusions might believe people are talking about them behind their back or believe that people have stolen from them. A hallucination might occur if a person sees something or hears something that is simply not there or perhaps mistakenly believes that a family member is actually someone else, such as an old classmate.

While anyone would be frustrated and angry if their memory began to fade and they were constantly confused and anxious, severe mood swings are not uncommon for those with dementia. These behaviors, which can include physical violence as well as verbal abuse, are beyond the normal level of frustration one might expect to accompany dementia. If your loved one is lashing out often, it actually can be beneficial to consider moving them to assisted living in San Diego. Make sure that the facility offers memory care services, as these are specially designed to make life as easy and stress-free as possible for people suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia.

Being the primary caregiver for your spouse or parent is never easy, but when that person also suffers from any type of dementia, it can be overwhelming. If you would like to find a suitable facility for assisted living in San Diego, contact a free service that offers eldercare placement. This service will provide you with a list of suitable options, and you can begin touring these facilities and perhaps select one that will be a good fit for your loved one.




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