Hearing that you or someone close to you has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be a daunting experience. The uncertainty surrounding these conditions often raises many questions. Understanding the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as recognizing when someone with either or both may need a long-term care facility, such as Zerbe Retirement Community, can significantly reduce stress for both the patient and caregiver. Whether it’s mixed dementia or specific forms like vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia, knowing when to seek help from a memory care community is crucial. This knowledge provides clarity and ensures that people with dementia receive the appropriate long-term care they need.
Dementia is a Symptom of Various Diseases
One of the main differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease is that dementia is a group of symptoms of various diseases, not just Alzheimer’s. Abnormal structures in the brain, known as plaques and tangles, interfere with memory and lead to dementia. While each form of dementia, such as vascular dementia or Lewy body dementia, presents specific symptoms, there are commonalities across these conditions. Medical experts agree that if a person exhibits two or more of the following cognitive issues, it could be due to dementia:
- Memory loss—both short-term and long-term
- Difficulty performing daily tasks
- Changes in mood, behavior, or judgment
- Communication issues or problems with language
- Visual perception impairment
If you or someone you love has these symptoms, it’s essential to seek the advice of a medical doctor. Early diagnosis can lead to better management and care, potentially involving a personal care home or an Alzheimer’s care facility that specializes in supporting people with dementia. In a supportive environment like a memory care community, patients can receive the long-term care they need to manage the side effects of dementia effectively.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a Degenerative Brain Disorder
On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of dementia that leads to significant memory, thinking, and behavior problems. This form of dementia develops gradually and worsens over time, characterized by an increased presence of plaques and tangles in the brain. These abnormal structures cause a degenerative brain disorder, which almost always impacts memory first.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it often results in communication struggles, personality changes, and a noticeable decline in cognitive function. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may eventually require the specialized care provided by an Alzheimer’s care facility, where they can receive the necessary support to manage these symptoms effectively. In such care homes, the focus is on maintaining the quality of life for people with dementia, ensuring they receive the attention and long-term care they need as their condition progresses.
How a CCRC Can Help a Person with Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?
Long-term care facilities, especially a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), can help care for a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Because both dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are progressive—meaning they typically get worse over time—a safe, caring place with different levels of care is often an excellent fit.
In the early stages of either condition, a person could live in personal care. Harvest View at Zerbe Retirement Community provides care services for residents who require supervision or assistance with daily living activities. These residents live in a private room, with common areas for the library, private dining room, laundry, and more. They receive assistance with medications, bathing, personal grooming, cleaning, and dining.
As the diseases progress, there may be a time where a person needs 24/7 care. At a CCRC, that person can move to a skilled nursing facility when required. Zerbe Sisters Skilled Nursing Center at Zerbe Retirement Community provides quality, long-term care services in a warm and loving environment. Here, your loved one will live in a spacious room that offers 24-hour care to keep them safe and ensure they receive the personal care they need.
The Best Time to Move to a Long-Term Care Facility
So, when is the right time to move to a CCRC? The earlier you can get someone into long-term care services, the better their quality of life may be.
If you are the person recently diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you might recognize that while you can still make decisions independently, this ability could change within a year or two. To alleviate future burdens on your family or caregivers, you may want to consider moving to an Alzheimer’s care facility or a CCRC that offers various levels of care as your needs evolve. This proactive step ensures that as your condition progresses, you have access to the appropriate level of support, whether it be in a memory care community or another part of the assisted living community.
For caregivers or family members of someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, transitioning your loved one into a CCRC or personal care home as early as possible can significantly ease both their life and yours. Waiting until your loved one becomes incontinent, aggressive, or begins wandering can make the move even more stressful. Early placement in a CCRC or specialized dementia care facility allows your loved one to receive the compassionate, quality care they need while reducing the strain on you and your relationship with your loved one. These care homes are designed to provide a supportive environment, ensuring that people with dementia receive the long-term care they deserve.
How Zerbe Retirement Community Can Help
Zerbe Retirement Community is a long-term care facility that provides skilled nurses who treat you like family. Many residents choose to move in as early as they can, so they can take advantage of the many amenities and services provided by our community. A person with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease can progress through our levels of care as their health care needs change.
When that person needs it, Zerbe Retirement can help with multiple services, including:
- Carefully managed medications
- Assistance with mobility and daily tasks
- Safety from wandering into dangerous situations
- Decreasing stress for caregivers
- 24/7 care at our skilled nursing center
To learn more about how our compassionate team at Zerbe Retirement Community can help care for someone you love who struggles with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, contact us today!
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published on August 26, 2021. It has since been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
