Dementia is a progressive disease. The elder is maybe able to function independently during the initial stages but may need assistance as the disease progresses. Caring for a elder with dementia will have to start early into the diagnosis as there are active interventions that can be done to delay cognitive decline such as maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, medical compliance as prescribed by physicians, regular and intensive cognitive rehabilitation and a wholesome diet as suggested in evidence-based medical research.
The Individual is seen as healthy and able to perform his activities and any signs of forgetfulness may be attributed to poor lifestyle psychosocial stress as well as poor attention.
Clinical symptoms of dementia may not manifest at this age but some studies suggest that there are changes in the brain that can predict dementia in the later years.
Smoking, alcohol, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, dyslipidemia and hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle and diabetes are known to accelerate the process
TDCF helps in providing awareness and information you will need to know to prevent onset of Dementia. There is also a community formed here to share information and provide support
Natural ageing is NOT the same as Dementia. Forgetfulness, difficulty finding the right word difficulty multitasking, etc, may be attributed to the reduced speed of processing of information and energy for doing the task. A naturally aging elder will be able to function in all areas of life .
TDCF provides a regular cognitive assessment which can help keep track of your brain functions. Increased awareness of Dementia and its impact also can help. Being part of our community also serves as a source of support to both as a caregivers and patients.
Also known as the precursor to dementia where the elder experiences mild difficulty in cognition which is starting to affect day to day function. The risk factors for this stage could be due to many reasons such as:
Non-modifiable risk factors such as age, family history, gender and genetic loading( females are more prone). are also applicable.
TDCF provides regular cognitive assessment for affected individuals. Along with a strong community of caregivers and wellwishers. TDCF also provides training in self cognitive retraining and various relaxation techniques.
Dementia is a chronic and progressive condition affecting the elderly. It presents a significant decline in cognitive functioning and/or behaviour changes. Till date, there has been no known cure for the disease, however, it is possible to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms through medications. Cognitive stimulation can improve the quality of life and delay the progression of the illness.
Loss of memory can also affect other areas of cognition like language, fluency, attention, and visuospatial skills at the risk of wandering. Difficulty attending to self, increased dependency/aggression can continue to decline till end of life.
Apart from the above-mentioned services TDCF also houses a day care facility for patients affected with Dementia. Here medical professionals specific towards the treatment of patients with dementia are available. TDCF provides regular cognitive retraining and relaxation treatments along with activities to keep them active.
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