Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation :
Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation :
Dementia : Realities and Reasons for Hope
by Robin Shepherd
The Shape of Dementia
There ’ s a new case of dementia every three seconds . While dementia is not a normal part of aging , the risk of having it roughly doubles every five years over the age of 65 . With more of us living longer , it ’ s expected that more than 150 million people will be living with dementia by 2050 .
Progressive dementia is the result of diseases that attack the brain and cause continual decline in a person ’ s cognitive , behavioral , emotional and physical health . Researchers are working to identify underlying causes of Alzheimer ’ s , Lewy body , vascular and other neurodegenerative diseases .
Until we have the cures , dementia is not something we can fix .
What we can do is to educate families about reducing the risk of dementia in the future , and improve the quality of care for people living with dementia today .
Breaking the Stigma
Historically , public information about dementia has been incomplete and confusing . As human beings , we often fear what we don ’ t understand or can ’ t control . We tend to focus on what people with dementia can ’ t do , rather than what they can do . This leads to stigmatization and robs people of their sense of dignity , purpose and hope . We can break the stigma by learning about dementia , talking openly about it , and exploring new ways to support patients and caregivers living with dementia .
Some Current Challenges
• People may be unaware or in denial when experiencing dementia symptoms .
• Seniors may not have planned for the possibility of dementia , prepared a will or an advance health directive , or designated a healthcare power of attorney .
• Doctors may miss or misdiagnose symptoms , or hesitate to diagnose or refer patients to specialists when they do suspect dementia .
• Employers may lack human resources policies or discriminate against workers who may be living with or caring for someone with dementia .
• Friends and neighbors may stop calling or visiting , leading to social isolation and loneliness , which can exacerbate cognitive decline .
• Family caregivers without a support team may become overwhelmed , frustrated and burned out , with negative impacts to their own health and wellbeing .
• Communities may lack systems or networks to connect families in need with resources .
• Crises like COVID may force public and private facilities to de-prioritize dementia care , and patients and caregivers may lose access to support resources .
Every one of these challenges can be overcome , but it takes education , training , resources , and a commitment to the health and wellbeing of people with dementia .
Know the Risk Factors Age : living longer increases the risk of having dementia .
Health issues : dementia risk is associated with heart disease , diabetes , hypertension , stroke , concussion or other brain trauma , untreated anxiety or depression .
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