Dementia is a cruel disease. It robs its victims of their memories and, eventually, their facilities.
It also robs the victim's loved ones of the person they know and love. Dementia is a fatal illness that afflicts 10 percent of people over the age of 65. More than 60 percent of individuals in nursing homes and more than half of assisted living facilities residents suffer from dementia.
Dementia is a term for a group of symptoms arising from diseases that affect the brain. People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to do activities of daily living (ADLs), such as getting dressed, bathing or eating.
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They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions, and they may become agitated or see things that are not there (hallucinate). Their personalities often change.
A common symptom of dementia is memory loss, but that alone doesn't qualify for a diagnosis of dementia. A person with dementia also has serious problems with language.
Though dementia is a common disease, the signs and symptoms are varied and are often discrete, allowing the illness to sneak up on people and their families. It is hard to manage, it's terminal over a longer period of time than six months and frequently leads to nursing home placement. Whether a person remains at home or in a skilled-nursing home, hospice care is appropriate and can help.
The nature of dementia leads to hospice not being used for many reasons; dementia is not obviously terminal, it progresses slowly, people do now know that hospice care can be used and more.
Hospice Chautauqua County can help. HCC provides palliative care at the end of life. A person in the final stages of Alzheimer's is a perfect example, as pain management and symptom control is difficult with this dementia, and people often need help with feeding, dressing, toileting, and behavior control.
Hospice Chautauqua County is dedicated to caring for patients and families facing terminal illness. Hospice offers a range of services through a team concept to meet the physical as well as the emotional needs of both the patient and the family. If you are interested in finding out more information on Hospice Chautauqua County, please visit our website at hospicechautco.org or call 338-0033.