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Dementia and Capacity
“The Road To A Friend's House Is Never Too long” (Virginia to Florida)

It was midnight October 1960, after my 3oth birthday; we took a walk to Florida state park. We sat down under the shining full moon and told stories and laugh the night away. I still remember. I am coming to your house, so we can go to the park and watch the full moon and tell stories.

Virginia to Florida is a long way to visit a friend by midnight. Are you surprise that a person is attempting to do that, because he thinks that it is 10 minutes away from his house? Please do not be surprise. A 75 years old man just want to visit his friend and catch up on things they did/use to do 45years ago. Do you see any problem with that? I do. Unless you understand the word "Dementia", is then, my answer will make sense to you.

What is Dementia?
“It is an umbrella term used to describe a number of diseases that impaired cognition (Usually memory and thinking). It is one of the most serious disorders that affect more than 4 million people and is common in older adults. The prevalence increases with age, with increasing age doubling every 5yeras after age 60”.
There are different types of dementia. “The most common is known as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Pick disease”. While many may regard Alzheimer’s disease to be “simple an early form of senile brain disease, all agrees that Pick’s disease has it own entity”.

Brief preview of the two known common dementia‘s symptoms:
The Alzheimer’s association has developed a list of ten warning signs of AD. A person with several of these symptoms should see a physician for a through evaluation.

Memory loss that affects skills
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problem with language
Poor or decreased judgment
Problem with abstract thinking
Misplacing things
Changes in mood or behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative

As much as these symptoms might be very distributing, bear in mind also that your loved one needs to be evaluated by a professional, who can weight the possibility that his or her symptoms may have another cause. Hope for the best, because “approximately 20% of those originally suspected of having AD turn out to have some disorder; and the best yet, half of these cases are treatable”.

Points to consider:
We all know that it seems easier to ask questions, than to get a logical reasonable answer. For this reason, we grieve; shed silent tears, helpless to anything that can change the situation. Always remember that you are not alone because there are many resources out there to embrace. Most importantly, you must know that you are the first giver of any kind of support to your loved one. Your loved one is a happy receiver of the content and the context of the service which must be offered with dignity.

Suggestion:
For more information about Dementia and its’ related disease,
Call Alzheimer’s Association Toll –free phone 1-866-259-0042