Try: Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia some symptoms of vascular dementia may be similar to those of other types of dementia and usually reflect increasing difficulty to perform everyday activities like eating dressing or shopping behavioral and physical symptoms can come on dramatically or very gradually regardless of the rate of appearance vascular dementia typically progresses in a stepwise fashion where lapses in memory and reasoning abilities are followed by periods of stability only to give way to further decline the following are common mental and emotional signs and symptoms of vascular dementia slowed thinking memory problems; general forgetfulness unusual mood changes e g depression irritability hallucinations and delusions confusion which may get worse at night personality changes and loss of social skills note if the cr shows signs of vascular dementia consult a doctor immediately information references helpguide org

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Dementia vascular dementia warning signs

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia behavioral and physical symptoms can come on dramatically or very gradually the following are common physical signs and symptoms of vascular dementia dizziness leg or arm weakness tremors moving with rapid shuffling steps balance problems loss of bladder or bowel control the following are common behavioral signs and symptoms of vascular dementia slurred speech language problems such as difficulty finding the right words for things getting lost in familiar surroundings laughing or crying inappropriately difficulty planning organizing or following instructions difficulty doing things that used to come easily e g paying bills or playing a favorite card game reduced ability to function in daily life note if the cr shows signs of vascular dementia consult a doctor immediately information references helpguide org

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Dementia vascular dementia

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Depression is unfortunately common in some care recipients cr depression in older adults and the elderly is often linked to physical illness which can increase the risk for depression symptoms of depression can also occur as part of medical problems such as dementia or as a side effect of prescription drugs it’s important to be aware that medical problems can cause depression in older adults and the elderly either directly or as a psychological reaction to the illness any chronic medical condition particularly if it is painful disabling or life-threatening can lead to depression or make depression symptoms worse the following are common medical conditions that can cause or contribute to depression parkinson’s disease stroke heart disease cancer diabetes thyroid disorders vitamin b12 deficiency dementia and alzheimer’s disease lupus multiple sclerosis information references adapted from www helpguide org

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Depression medical conditions

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Some care recipients cr may feel grief over the death of a pet pets often enrich the cr’s life and provide companionship emotional support and unconditional love given the intense bond most of us share with our animals it’s natural to feel devastated by feelings of grief and sadness when a pet dies while there is no right or wrong way to grieve there are healthy ways to cope with the grief of losing a pet others may not understand the depth of feeling the cr had for a pet but it is not embarrassing to grieve for a pet the key to coping is to accept one’s feelings and embrace emotions many people will think the cr is overreacting for many people a pet is just an animal however grief is often normal the level of grief depends on factors such as age and personality the age of the pet and the circumstances of their death generally the more significant the loss the more intense the grief grief can be complicated by the role the animal played in the cr’s life for example if the pet was a working dog or a helper animal such as a guide dog the animal played an important role in the cr’s life information references helpguide org

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Grief pet loss

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Most care recipients cr prefer to stay at home as long as possible the ability to stay at home often depends on how much support the cr has her general health and her financial situation the following are things to factor into an assessment of the cr’s ability to stay in home household maintenance depending on the house keeping a household running smoothly can be a significant amount of work if the cr has a hard time managing everything she can look into laundry shopping gardening housekeeping and handyman services transportation transportation is an important issue for crs investigating transportation options can help the cr keep some independence and maintain her social network home modifications if cr’s mobility is becoming limited home modifications can go a long way towards making home more comfortable examples of this include grab bars in the shower ramps to avoid or minimize the use of stairs or even installing new bathrooms on the ground floor some crs even modify the home so living can be done on one floor if stairs are a problem personal care many crs who stay at home hire a personal caregiver the worker will usually help with activities of daily living such as dressing bathing feeding or meal preparation a cr can hire help with personal care ranging from a few hours a day to live-in care health care some health care services can be provided at home check with the cr’s insurance to see what kind of coverage is available although some cost may come out of pocket information references helpguide org

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Financial, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: House caregiver living situation in home care

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Having a conversation about future housing arrangements for the Care recipient (cr) can be emotional and stressful for everyone involved the sooner the issue is discussed the better off the cr will be having a conversation while the cr is still healthy is best because the cr will have control and more choices planning for the future is essential to determining an appropriate living situation for the cr aging is a time of adaptation and change and planning for the future will make sure your needs or the needs of a loved one are fully met continuing to thrive as you age means learning how to maintain your independence for as long as possible physical and medical needs of the cr as the cr gets older he may need some help with physical needs including activities of daily living this could range from shopping cleaning and cooking to intensive help with bathing toileting moving around and eating the cr may also need increasing help with medical needs the change could be subtle or drastic if brought on by a major medical issue research shows that around 70 percent of individuals over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care services during their lifetime social and emotional needs of the cr as the cr becomes older his social interactions will change friends or family may not be as close by or neighbors may move or pass on if cr becomes isolated and housebound it can have an adverse effect on his health financial needs of the cr long-term care can be expensive the cr will have to balance care needs with where he can afford to live the cr should consider moving to a facility with more onsite care or easier maintenance or modifying a home and using in-home help if necessary information references

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Personal

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Housing independence communication

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Many care recipient’s cr will have the need for intimacy at any age depending on the cr sex at older ages can present challenges because of physical or emotional issues maintaining intimacy has the power to be a benefit to the cr’s life a healthy sex life can improve mental and physical health it can burn fat cause the brain to release endorphins and drastically reduce anxiety intimacy can increase lifespan through its health-improving benefits a good sex life can add years to your life intimacy helps maintain relationships intimacy is a chance to express the closeness of your deepest relationship sex can be an escape intimacy gives the cr a chance to escape from the sometimes-harsh realities of the world information references

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Sexuality Intimacy

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Sex intimacy

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Studies show that laughter has healing powers information laughter reduces muscle tension laughter reduces stress and can help prevent stress-related medical conditions laughter produces endorphins that help relax the body laughter helps aid digestion keeping a sense of humor about circumstances can increase a sense of well-being references

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Social

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Laughter tension stress digestion relaxation

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Researchers have found that having hope during serious illness can help defy the odds information scientific studies have found that abnormal cells can take over the body more rapidly in an individual who has lost hope neurons hormones and immune systems are easily influenced by each other if the brain believes there is hope it can positively affect the other bodily systems sources of hope differ from person to person some have hope in god and the promise of an after-life some have hope that the disease can be beat some have hope in medical research and doctors encouraging and promoting hope during illness will make a difference in the life of the person with a serious illness references adapted from information found on hope at www learningplaceonline com

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Personal, Social, Spiritual

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Disease hope death spirituality

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Home adaptation involves adapting a home so that a Care recipient (cr) can remain in the home the type of modification required will depend on the cr’s condition and the physical set-up of the home the modification can be basic installing handrails or comprehensive changing the home to allow cr to stay on bottom floor an investment in home modification may eliminate or possibly delay the need for institutional care the goal is to allow the cr to retain his independence and continue living at home for as long as possible the best candidates for home modifications are cr’s who have some degree of mobility and do not need institutionalization although up-front costs can be expensive home adaptation is often must cheaper than a nursing home or assisted living information references

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Dementia home house

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed