Mental Health and Nursing Homes

Dementia is the loss of mental abilities and capacities. It mostly affects the elderly, with five to eight percent of men and women over 65 being affected. It gets worse with age, and 25 to 50 percent of men and women over the age of 80 are afflicted with the disease. If you or a loved one finds yourself facing this disease, you may become discouraged as to the outlook. However, there are several treatment options for dementia that have proven to be helpful.

The most commonly known form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, though there are actually several forms and varying severities of the disease. In many cases, Alzheimer’s disease starts with small strokes or problems that tighten the blood vessels in the brain. This constriction prevents the brain from getting oxygen it needs to function properly.

Once your loved has been diagnosed with dementia, it is important that they start on an appropriate treatment plan for the disease. In many cases, proper care for the patient is the most important aspect of treatment, since as the disease progresses day to day tasks can become more difficult.

For mild dementia, some patients can be cared for at home by the family. In other cases, the disease becomes so severe that outside assistance may be need to properly care for them. In the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, the patient can actually pose a danger to themselves and those around them. For example, if they try to leave their home to run an errand, they may get turned around and forget how to get back. If this happens during winter months, they could freeze to death before they are discovered, or if it is hot they could become ill with dehydration. Even a less serious accident can cause a lot of pain and distress for the family. However, they should not blame themselves, as the care their loved one requires is often more than one person can take on by themselves. At this point, the consideration to move the loved on into a nursing home or other assisted living facility is often the best option.

As with other nursing homes, there are different levels of care to cater to the different needs of dementia patients, and many facilities are prepared to handle the progressive stages in the disease.

All of the facilities are designed to help the patients with day to day living. They provide nutritious meals daily, help them to get the exercise that they need, and can help to provide the treatments that their stage of the disease requires to help prevent it from getting worse. Plus, they can also give the residents a chance to socialize with other people who are suffering from the disease.

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© Information Warehouse 2007
All articles on this site are for information only and should not be treated as medical advice.
If you experience any symptoms, consult a medical professional.