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Most Common Form Of Dementia Care

Posted On : Sep-13-2010 | seen (738) times | Article Word Count : 362 |

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia in the US. According to the '2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures' of the Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia in the US. According to the '2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures' of the Alzheimer's Association, the number of Alzheimer's sufferers in the nation stands at 5.3 million, including 5.1 million people aged 65 years or older. Alzheimer's is more prevalent in women than in men.

According to the National Parkinson Foundation, Parkinson's is the second most common neurological disorder in the US after Alzheimer's. Each year, 50,000 to 60,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the US alone.

Dementia Care is associated with senior citizens who have Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. It is a specialized form of Assisted Living, which combines 24-hour residential, healthcare and support services for the elderly.

Dementia Care is usually administered through Special Care Units (SCU), which can either be standalone entities or part of an Assisted Living community. Architecturally different from regular Assisted Living facilities, SCUs can be compared to specialized therapeutic environments for those requiring Dementia Care.

Residents housed in the SCUs have Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia or memory-related disorder and require round-the-clock monitoring, medication, assistance with activities of daily living that most people take for granted (e.g. dressing, eating, walking or bathing) and staff specially trained to care for such senior citizens.

Unlike regular Assisted Living facilities, SCUs utilize enhanced security and patient-tracking measures. SCUs also make use of cueing devices (external temporal or spatial stimuli) to facilitate movement, gait initiation and continuation in residents, especially those with Parkinson's.

Not all Assisted Living providers, however, offer Dementia Care services. Even then, some of those who do may screen and accept only those senior citizens who are in early stages of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia or memory-related disorder. Some Assisted Living providers have no such restrictions and welcome senior citizens regardless of the severity of the dementia or memory-related disorder.

SCUs offering Dementia Care may be standalone entities or a part of retirement communities, senior housing complexes and nursing homes. Because they provide specialized care, access to medication, physicians and nursing professionals, SCUs are far more expensive than regular Assisted Living facilities.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Most Common Form Of Dementia Care_32815.aspx

Author Resource :
Sumit Gurg provides information about Dementia Care and Alzheimer’s care .for more details, plz visit at: http://www.seniorcarehomesmidwest.com

Keywords : Alzheimer’s care , dementia care,

Category : Home and Family : Parenting

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