SPRING 2016
Memory Care Options in Lancaster County
“Once a patient
Common symptoms include:
is diagnosed, we
Memory loss that disrupts daily life
can put a plan into
Confusion regarding time or place
place for dealing with the situation— having a plan can
Difficulty completing familiar tasks Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps to find them Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
provide relief for
Decreased or poor judgment
both the patient
Changes in mood and personality
and caregivers.” – Dr. Jon E. Bentz Dementia, which Bentz described as “an umbrella term that indicates the presence of impairment beyond normal age-related changes,” has many causes. The biggest risk factor of getting dementia is aging. “The older you get, the higher your risk is of getting dementia,”Bentz said. While we often think of Alzheimer’s disease as a type of dementia, Bentz and the Alzheimer’s Association refer to it as a cause of dementia. Other causes for dementia—commonly referred to as types of dementia—include vascular dementia, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is decreased; dementia with Lewy bodies, which is associated with Parkinson’s disease; Parkinson’s dementia, which accompanies Parkinson’s disease; frontotemporal lobar dementia, which is characterized by personality changes and difficulty with language; and mixed dementia, in which brain abnormalities associated with more than one cause of dementia occur. While a common condition, dementia is not always easily diagnosed. Fifty percent of individuals with dementia are not diagnosed at the time when they begin to show symptoms, according to Bentz.
New problems with words in speaking or writing Withdrawal from work or social activities
Lancaster General’s Alzheimer’s and Memory Care program has made great strides in diagnosing and treating dementia by employing a multi-disciplinary approach.
“We don’t just have physicians, we have a team that includes geriatricians, neurologists, neuropsychologists, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and social workers,” Bentz explained. “That helps us to diagnose patients earlier so that treatment can begin earlier.” Patients may be treated with medicines that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and provided guidance on how to manage other physical conditions, such as anxiety, chronic pain, sleep disorders or depression. An important part of treating dementia is managing a patient’s medications, as some drugs can have a negative effect on brain function. A patient or caregiver who is concerned about dementia should start by consulting a family doctor or the Lancaster General Health Alzheimer’s and Memory Care program at 717-544-3539. While there is no Continued on page 27