South Carolina Dementia Care

By, Adelle Stanley

Agape Senior Director of Dementia programs

As we learned last week dementia is not a specific disease. It is a general term used to describe many symptoms that cause different brain disorders. Just as Pudding is the heading for many different types of pudding. Dementia is just a heading that makes you think of many different types of diseases that cause problems preforming activities of daily living (things that someone does to go through the day).

Normal Aging

We all know that as we age we sometimes become less able to recall names, places and faces. Normal Aging does not affect you activities of daily living. (ADL)

When someone thinks they have a memory problem they should go to a knowledgeable physician who is keeping pace with the fast changing information about dementia. The physician will have to do many tests to find out what type of dementia the person has. One of the first diagnoses may be:

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

With MCI a person has problems with their memory. These problems are bad enough that other people notice. They would also show upon an evaluation the physician may do. The physician will do testing to find out what the problem is. MCI may be what the physician tells the person they have until the physician does testing and is able to determine what disease is causing the diagnoses of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the number one cause of a dementia diagnoses.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, where symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions.

Next week we will learn about other dementia diseases…It is so important to get a correct diagnosis

West Columbia South Carolina – Agape Senior

Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve.West Columbia, Lexington, Springdale, Cayce, Oak Grove, St Andrews, Columbia,South Congaree, Pine ridge, Red Bank. Call us at 800-411- 2427