The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but other illnesses and conditions can also cause dementia. Afflicted individuals become confused and forgetful. They may begin writing “reminder” notes to cover up their forgetfulness. They may become withdrawn or retreat into a more simplified lifestyle. They may hide what they consider to be their “precious” belongings in an effort to safeguard them; and then forget where they hid them and accuse others of stealing them. Perhaps the reason for this charade is that these people do not understand what is happening to them and are embarrassed, or perhaps they are fighting to maintain a sense of independence. In addition to the loss of recent memory, afflicted individuals suffer a gradual loss of judgment, abstract reasoning, and social capabilities. You may notice that a loved one seems to be inattentive to conversation, or fails to grasp the whole context of a social situation. As the person loses the ability to assimilate information, his or her responses will become less adept. Initially, these changes will be subtle, but over time, they will become more pronounced.
As the various symptoms appear, afflicted individuals are likely to have emotional reactions. They may appear apathetic and demonstrate a lack of facial expression, accompanied by a flat tone of voice that may alternate with an extreme change of personality; or they may become paranoid or suffer from hallucinations and delusions. They may become anxious or irritable, and may even strike out physically.
Caregivers need to know more about dementia, and about the skills required to provide care for the dementia patient.