Stats
The greatest risk factor for any type of dementia.
What is Age.
1 in 9 people 65 and older will develop dementia and 1 in 3 people 85 and older.
Although age is the greatest risk factor, people of all ages can develop some type of dementia.
True or False.
Dementia is a mental illness.
False.
Dementia is not a mental illness. Dementia is characterized by a gradual decline in cognition and is terminal.
Mental illness is not dementia. Mental illness is a chemical imbalance and in most cases treatable with medications. Mental illness usually presents itself in episodic phases that eventually end.
Memory loss is the only thinking skill that is lost with dementia.
False.
Dementia involves much more than memory loss. It affects every part of the brain and causes brain cells to die. It affects reasoning, judgement, language, organization, attention, perception, abstraction.
Why is it important to approach a person with dementia from the front and not from behind or from the side?
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.
True or False
Dementia is part of normal aging.
False.
Dementia is a progressive disease that is not part of the normal aging process.
True or False.
Dementia affects only individuals living with the condition.
False.
Dementia affects entire families, communities, businesses, organizations, health care organizations, faith communities, and overloads our police and EMTs.
When communities are not aware of or understand dementia, it causes more isolation and loneliness in not only the person but also the caregiver.
A type of dementia that includes symptoms such as visual hallucinations, paranoia, sleep disturbances, eventual memory loss, and other decline in brain functions.
a) Vascular Dementia
b) Huntington's
c) Frontotemporal Dementia
d) Lewy Body Dementia
What is Lewy Body Dementia
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.
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.
It is best to correct a person living with dementia and orient them to what is true and bring them back to reality.
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.
True or False
Dementia and Alzheimer's are used interchangeably and they have the same meaning.
False.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of symptoms associated with cognitive impairment that is severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia.
True or False.
Most people living with a type of dementia live in memory care facilities or nursing homes.
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.
A type of dementia that can be caused by blood vessel disease or after a series of strokes.
a) Frontotemporal
b) Alzheimer's
c) Vascular Dementia
d) Huntington's
What is Vascular Dementia.
Why is it important to provide 1-2 step instructions/directions/sentences when speaking to a person who may have dementia?
Due to brain changes caused by dementia, it can take up to 30 seconds for a person to process what you are saying.
Communicating with a person with dementia is difficult and time-consuming so it is best to rush, move quickly, and speak louder.
False.
In many cases, episodes of agitation can potentially be prevented, or the cause of the episode addressed with good communication.
Tips on how to approach:
Move slowly
Smile
Use a kind tone of voice
Keep body language open and welcoming
What statement is incorrect about people living with dementia.
a) They forget recent events.
b) They forget people's names, even family members and caregivers.
c) They can not recall any distant memories.
d) They have difficulty following along in conversation and may repeat things over and over.
c) They can not recall any distant memories.
People living with dementia may struggle with recalling recent events, forgetting family members names and have difficulty following along in conversation.
However, their strongest memories may be of the distant past. They may still recall a favorite childhood memory, a wedding, a birthday or something meaningful that they connected with.
True or False.
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias cost the nation more money than any other condition (cancer, diabetes, stroke, cancer, etc.)
True.
In 2024, AD and other dementias cost the nation 360 billion dollars. By the end of 2050, it will rise to more than 1 trillion dollars.
A type of dementia that affects primarily younger men and symptoms include loss of inhibitions, changes in personality, behavior, and judgment, speech and language, slowness in movements, difficulty walking.
a) Frontotemporal Dementia
b) Vascular Dementia
c) Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
d) Parkinson's Disease
What is Frontotemporal Dementia.
Name at least 2 causes why a person living with dementia may become agitated.
Pain, hunger/thirst
Fatigue, scared/frightened
May need to use the bathroom and not recognize signals
Understimulated/Overstimulated
Something in the environment (TV too loud, radio too loud, messy/cluttered home
The caregiver's approach
Medications or recent change in medications
Name at least 3 tips for communicating with someone suspected of living with dementia.
Speak clearly
Use short simple sentences
Ask open ended questions
Give one direction at a time
Allow time to respond
Use gestures
Name the 4 most common types of dementia.
What is...
Alzheimer's, Vascular, Lewy Bodies & Frontotemporal