Dementia Stages: What To Expect As Dementia Progresses
The middle dementia stages can be considered the most challenging stage for the individuals suffering from dementia as well as the individual’s caregivers People who have dementia face constant bouts of confusion as well as frustration especially during these middle dementia stages. Although this can bring various challenges to caregivers, understanding what these individuals are undergoing is important to be able to understand them better. John Bayley, the author of the book Elegy for Iris, mentions in his book that “Routine is a substitute for memory” and of all the dementia stages, the middle stage is perhaps the most difficult to handle and understand.
It is estimated that in this country alone, there are 5.1 million cases of dementia, 70% of which are not getting treatment from the hospital. Instead, they stay and get treatment at home where they are receiving proper care from their respective families and friends.
It is quite important to learn about dementia because of the increasing number of people who are having this kind of problem. Studies show that dementia cases are increasing each day and need to be addressed by understanding the disease. Those who do not have enough knowledge about dementia and dementia stages should take some time to better understand those who are suffering from it.
Those individuals who have been suffering from dementia may have changes in their personality and a noticeable deterioration in their mental capacity during its early stages. As the dementia stages advance, they will lose their ability to live normally. It may not only cause mental deterioration but can also affect the individual’s health. For example, some individuals may begin to lose their sense of balance, lose their appetite and ability to eat properly, and may develop physical problems. The time will come when they will become solely dependent on their caregivers for the rest of their life. If your family member has dementia, it is a must to learn more about dementia to be able to know what to expect as it progresses.
Not all dementia is the same. There are different types of dementia, some of which are common, while some types are quite unusual. But these should all be taken into account to effectively handle individuals with dementia and for proper medications and care.
Early detection of dementia is very important to be able to understand the individuals suffering from this disease. A person may exhibit unusual behavior or some personality changes that are quite noticeable but because there is lack of understanding about the different dementia stages, it can lead to a more serious problem.