HOSPICE CARE

Common Myths About Dementia

If your loved one has dementia, they will need extra assistance and care, especially as their condition progresses. When people first get the news that their loved one has dementia, however, their understanding of what to expect may be clouded by common myths and misconceptions. Below, we clear some of these myths up and share dementia facts.

• Myth: There is only one kind of dementia. Fact: Dementia is not a single condition. It is an umbrella of more than 100 different types of dementia, with various causes. The most well-known is Alzheimer’s. But some other types include frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, and vascular dementia. Every type of dementia has its own challenges to deal with, and may manifest in different ways. There are also variations in how one type of dementia may express in individual patients.
• Myth: People with dementia forget their whole lives. Fact: People with dementia do not forget everything about their entire lives. Earlier life memories are often intact, especially anything leading up to around age 35. Childhood memories may be especially clear. If you are having a hard time conversing about the present with a loved one with dementia, try discussing things that happened when they were younger.
• Myth: Only old people get dementia. Fact: Dementia is more likely to afflict older people. But early onset dementia does happen, affecting people younger than age 65. It is even possible for children to get dementia.
• Myth: Everyone gets dementia. Fact: Dementia is caused by medical conditions and genetics, not simply by the aging process alone. It is not destiny that every person will eventually get dementia. Many people never do. If a relative has dementia, you might also worry that means that you and everyone else in your family also will get dementia. But that is also not necessarily true. A lot of people never get dementia despite being related to people who do. And many people who get dementia do not have relatives with the condition. The majority of cases are not inherited. There is no sure-fire way to prevent dementia. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting the condition. These include healthy lifestyle choices like staying physically active, socializing regularly, eating a healthy diet, and treating or managing other conditions. You should also try to keep your brain active by doing activities like writing, learning, or playing games or solving puzzles.
• Myth: If your loved one has dementia, their life is over. Fact: Many people react to the news that they or a loved one has dementia with a sense of futility. Typical life expectancy is around 4-10 years following diagnosis. If a person is very old, however, that may not be a major change from the projected life expectancy they already have. Some people with dementia also may live quite a bit longer, even up to 20 years. This is more common with early onset dementia. It would be tragic to start treating a life as if it is over when there may be many years left that still offer quality experiences. During the early stages, a person with dementia may still have significant autonomy.
• Myth: If your loved one has dementia, they are no longer with you. Fact: When a person gets dementia, it is common for those around them to pull away. It can be scary watching someone you care about deteriorate. If you are related, you might also wonder if the same thing will happen to you one day. For this reason, and also because a lot of observers don’t really understand what is going on in the brain of a person with dementia, people often begin to believe that their loved one is “no longer here.” But this is a myth. Your loved one does not just disappear because their brain is no longer functioning the way it is supposed to. They may have a more difficult time with accessing their memories or doing certain tasks. Their behaviors might change. But they are still right here with you, still the same person. Your relationship with them will not be the same as it was, but you still can have one. And it can be positive and rewarding for both of you if you get the support that you both need.

We Can Help Your Loved One with Dementia

Inspire provides hospice care to patients with dementia and their families throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. To learn how we can help, please give us a call
at (404) 921-3341 to schedule your consultation.