Dementia Basics
This progressive brain disorder affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
What is dementia?
A person with dementia may do this if they become confused or lost.
What is wandering.
This type of alert may be issued when a person with dementia goes missing.
What is a Silver Alert?
Why is it important to approach a person with dementia from the front and not from behind?
What is "tunnel-like" vision?
As the disease progresses, it becomes very difficult to see, peripheral vision is lost, and vision can be more "tunnel-like."
Approaching from the front, maintaining eye contact allows a person to see you coming.
A person with dementia may appear intoxicated due to this symptom.
What is disorientation or slurred speech?
The most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
True or False.
Dementia is a mental illness.
False.
Dementia is not a mental illness or a disease, but a series of conditions that can arise when an individual is afflicted with one or more of the 120 diseases that can cause dementia.
Mental illness is treatable, in most cases, symptoms can be managed, the trick is getting a correct diagnosis.
Mental illness usually presents itself in episodic phases that eventually end. Dementia is characterized by a gradual decline and is terminal.
Approach is very different for both.
If you come across an individual hallucinating and you suspect they may have Lewy Body Dementia, the best thing and safest thing to do is to try and bring them out of the hallucination.
What is false.
Hallucinations are experienced by people with dementia largely due to changes in the brain caused by the disease.
To them what they're experiencing is real; by trying to convince them otherwise you may create frustration and anxiety that could make things worse and cause them to feel their concerns are being dismissed.
What should you avoid when giving instructions to a person living with dementia?
What is complex, multi-step directions?
This behavior may be mistaken for shoplifting.
What is forgetting to pay or confusion at checkout?
True or False.
Dementia is a normal part of getting older.
What is false.
A type of dementia that can be caused by alcohol misuse.
a) Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
b) Korsakoff Syndrome
c) Vascular Dementia
d) Huntington's
What is Korsakoff syndrome?
Korsakoff syndrome is a result from alcohol misuse. Scientists don't yet know why heavy drinking causes severe thiamine deficiency in some alcoholics, while others may be affected primarily by alcohol's effects on the liver, stomach, heart, intestines or other body systems.
This wearable item can help identify a person with dementia.
What is a medical ID bracelet or GPS tracker?
It is best to correct a person living with dementia and orient them to what is true and bring them back to reality.
What is false.
Correcting, criticizing, or arguing with a person with dementia causes more frustration, anger, and anxiety. It is important to go with the flow and enter their world.
Medications are the most effective way to manage behaviors.
What is False?
There is no way to prevent, cure, or slow the progression of dementia. Some medications MAY assist with some of the symptoms, however; medications can cause many side effects.
A person with dementia does not have behaviors, they are not able to communicate effectively due to changes happening in the brain. Communication can occur when a person with dementia has unmet needs, a caregiver does not understand the disease, or sensory overload caused by the environment.
True or False.
Most people living with a type of dementia live in memory care facilities or nursing homes.
What is false.
More than 70% of people living with dementia live in the community.
People can live well with dementia for many years with the support of the caregiver and awareness and understanding of the community.
This technique helps calm someone with dementia during a stressful encounter.
What is speaking slowly and reassuringly?
As an adult, the brain weights 3 pounds. How much does a brain weigh with advanced Alzheimer's disease or another dementia?
1 pound.
Plaques and tangles cause brain cells to die and with the progression of a type of dementia, the brain shrinks and becomes like Swiss cheese with holes throughout the brain.
Why is arguing with someone living with dementia ineffective?
What is because they may not understand logic and it can escalate confusion or distress?
The Aging and Disability Resource Center and Adult Protective Services can basically do the same things.
What is false.
The ADRC is not a crisis center and services are voluntary, cannot do cold calls/home visits
APS can investigate abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, can do cold calls/home visits
Name two other types of dementia besides Alzheimer's.
What is Lewy body dementia?
What is vascular dementia?
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Name one way law enforcement can prepare for dementia-related calls.
What is training, community registry, caregiver contact information?
Name one local resource that supports people living with dementia and their caregivers.
What is the ADRC?
How does body language affect trust?
What is non-threatening posture and gentle gestures help reduce fear?
What should you consider when someone living with dementia resists help.
What is they may not recognize you or understand your intent?