Therapy for Dementia

Dementia is a life altering condition, not only for the one diagnosed but also their family. Many treatments are available including medications and a variety of therapies to help alleviate or lessen the symptoms. Deciding what is right requires understanding what dementia is and taking the personal needs of the person with it into account.

Identification

• Dementia is a variety of symptoms that affect how a person's mind works. It interferes with the way they function and is a result of changes in the brain. There are many conditions that cause dementia such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Some symptoms of dementia include memory loss, impaired judgment, language problems, agitations, paranoia, and hallucinations. In order to be considered dementia, at least two functions of the brain must not be working correctly.

Medication

• There is no cure for dementia but some medications can assist with the symptoms. However, they also have side effects that must be weighed against the benefits. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase neurotransmitters that work with memory and judgment but also cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Memantine also assists with memory loss and helps with impaired learning. Its major side effect is dizziness. Sedatives and antidepressants can also be used to help with behaviors that interfere with functioning.

Therapy

• Besides medications, there has been some success in using other types of therapies to assist with dementia. Occupational therapy, which focuses on performing daily tasks such as self feeding, can benefit the person with dementia and those who care for them. By allowing those with dementia to take care of personal needs independently for longer, caregivers won't have as many responsibilities placed on their shoulders as quickly. Recreational therapy is the use of recreational activities, such as walking and riding bikes, as a way to modify behaviors and can be done easily at home. It can help with reducing problematic behaviors, enhance a person's mood, and assist caregivers by providing them with a recreational outlet. There are many other options to be considered such as music therapy, aroma therapy, and reminiscence therapy.

Considerations

• With so many options available for the treatment of a person with dementia, it can be difficult to decide what the right thing is to do. When a person is first diagnosed with dementia it can be helpful to develop a plan that takes their desires and interests into account. For example, a person who has always been physically active will prefer recreational therapy, while an artist might find occupational therapy more important so they can retain their artistic abilities for as long as possible. Discussing these things is especially important if the cause of the dementia is thought to be one that will progressively get worse.