The Dementia Journey

Dementia now requires more supervision than you can provide. What do you do? That is the question faced by thousands of caregivers every day. And there is no easy answer and no easy decision.

Understanding the Options- and the Journey Ahead

The best thing you can do is to try to understand options that may be available to you and your family. And to truly understand all of your options, it is important to know the possible cause of the signs of dementia, the expected progression of the disease and how your loved one can remain safe and cared for. In short – there is no easy answer but knowing your options can help you formulate a plan. And knowledge is power – even when we talk about dementia.

I’ve Rationalized Long Enough

There comes a time when an uncomfortable feeling that you have becomes a talking point in family conversations.?

“I drove with Dad to the post office and he completely forgot where it was.” “I know, he did that with me when we went to Uncle Peter’s house.”

Or, “Mom just bought an extended car warranty – again!”?

These interactions can be excused away for a time – but as the frequency of occurrence increases it becomes clear that a different level of care or supervision is needed.?

It is important to understand the?levels of dementia .

Mild Dementia

In this early stage of dementia, an individual can function rather independently, and often is still able to?drive ?and maintain a social life. Symptoms may be attributed to the normal process of aging. There might be?slight lapses in memory , such as misplacing eyeglasses or having difficulty finding the right word. Other difficulties may include issues with planning, organizing, concentrating on tasks, or accomplishing tasks at work. This early stage of dementia, on average, lasts between 2 and 4 years.

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