It’s the most frustrating thing in the world when suddenly everything from the most impactful moments of your life to cherished memories with loved ones seems to disappear overnight. Nothing is sacred when it comes to memory loss, a devastating reality that many will struggle to come to terms with. When dealing with dementia, it’s incredibly important to arm yourself with the information needed to navigate the unknown. Because with the right tools, you can help your loved ones live a fulfilling life after their dementia diagnosis.

What Is Dementia? 

Dementia is the deterioration of memory in ways that affect thinking and behavior within everyday life. The result is a loss in capacity that exceeds what can be accounted for through normal aging. And for so many elderly individuals, this is the main factor that increases their dependency on others. One of the most common forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, however, there are many other known types that present in various ways.

Who Is Affected?

Nearly 10 million new cases each year contribute to this world-wide epidemic with nearly 50 million individuals affected in total, according to the World Health Organization. Plus — since age is the strongest known risk factor of dementia — as the population continues to grow, a rise in dementia cases can also be expected in the coming years. Because of its broad impact on so many facets of daily life, dementia will not only bring new and overwhelming changes for the individual but will also deeply affect family members and others in their social circle.

How Is Dementia Treated?

While there is no known treatment to cure dementia at this time, there are a number of ways to improve the lives of those affected by dementia. One of the best things you can do is diagnose dementia early, from there it will be easier to discern exactly what impact it’s having on the individual and what type of care would be best for their particular symptoms to optimize their well-being.

Memory Care Solutions

At Sagepoint, there are a variety of Memory Care options available at our facility. Our highly trained staff is always on hand, providing top-notch supervision and compassionate care. Each day activities and trips are provided to keep our residents active and engaged. The Opening Minds Through Art activities are a perfect example of how we tap into the creative pathways that are still active so that our residents can create something that they’re proud of.

Along with doing all we can to care for our residents with dementia, we’re also focused on educating our wider community about this widespread syndrome. Earlier this winter we had the opportunity to work with our community leaders during Leadership Southern Maryland’s Healthcare Day. There, we led a demonstration that provided a glimpse into the struggles that dementia patients face each day, as well as the challenges that our healthcare community works to overcome.