Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental abilities that affects memory, thinking and behavior, and can interfere with daily life.
Dementia is an umbrella term for the many types of organic illnesses that include symptoms of dementia. Dementia itself is not a single disease. Dementia is caused by abnormal brain changes.
A few illnesses, such as vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and head injuries can cause dementia-like symptoms.
A person experiencing symptoms of dementia can feel confused, helpless, frustrated, angry and sad. Talking to a therapist can assist with the grief, sense of loss and decline in independence.
Watching a loved one struggle with symptoms of dementia can be devastating, and we can feel grief over the loss of the person we used to know prior to the onset of symptoms.
Being a caregiver to an individual with symptoms of dementia can be exhausting and can create caregiver and compassion fatigue. Therapy can be a way to express feelings that come up as we navigate the loss of the person we used to know, as well as the stress that comes with caring for another person while simultaneously navigating our own personal day-to-day life challenges.
