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5 Benefits of Dementia Care for Seniors

Elderly woman and caretaking discussing benefits of dementia care

Dementia is a progressive deterioration of cognitive functioning beyond what typically occurs with age. A variety of diseases or injuries that impact the brain may cause dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, accounting for most cases.

Because dementia impacts everyone differently, a cookie-cutter approach to care is ineffective. Individualized dementia care for seniors can meet people where they are and adapt to their changing needs. The numerous benefits of dementia care may help individuals live the highest possible quality of life.

Buckner Villas is an assisted living community in Austin that provides dementia care for seniors. Our program aims to provide targeted care to help our residents maintain their safety, independence, and dignity in a beautiful, secure setting. Call 512.580.9882 to learn more about promoting engagement, brain health, and overall well-being.

What Are the Symptoms of Dementia?

Often, the onset of dementia is slow and easy to confuse with typical age-related memory lapses. It can also occur suddenly, mainly in the case of stroke, infection, or brain injury. How dementia manifests differently among individuals is still not fully understood. However, the underlying causes, other health conditions, and a person’s pre-dementia cognitive functioning are all thought to play a role.

The common signs and symptoms of dementia occur in distinct stages: early, middle, and late. The early stage is easy to overlook because of the gradual onset and similarity to typical age-related memory loss. Signs become more apparent during the middle stage. Seniors with late-stage dementia require 24-hour care.

Early-stage symptoms include the following:

  • Misplacing items
  • Losing track of time
  • Becoming lost in familiar places
  • General forgetfulness

Middle-stage signs can include:

  • Forgetting people’s names or recent events
  • Becoming confused or disoriented at home
  • Needing help with personal care
  • Increasing difficultly communicating
  • Behavior changes, such as repeated questioning or wandering

Late-stage symptoms include:

  • Being unaware of the current time or place
  • Significant behavior changes, including increased aggression
  • Inability to recognize friends or family
  • Reliance on others for personal care
  • Mobility or balance issues

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for dementia. Effective care focuses on education and learning to adapt to living with dementia to lead the best quality of life.

What Are Dementia Care Benefits?

The best time to think about dementia care is before it is needed. Having a plan prevents the need to make rushed decisions in a crisis and helps ease the transition. Moving to a senior living community that offers a complete continuum of care allows seniors and their families to be familiar with and comfortable in their environment before dementia progresses.

Perhaps the most significant dementia care benefit is the peace of mind that comes with having a safe, welcoming environment that provides 24-hour support based on individual needs. Consider these five other significant dementia care program benefits:

  • Security measures to deter wandering, such as door alarms
  • Coordination with primary care physicians and specialists
  • Highly-skilled staff who specialize in dementia care
  • Low staff-to-resident ratios for more personalized care
  • Specialized therapies and activities designed to enhance cognitive functioning

Beyond safety and privacy, seniors need to feel happy and comfortable to thrive. Whenever possible, seniors should be involved in choosing the dementia care program they think best suits them. Playing an active role can ensure they reap the full benefits of dementia care.

Discover Dementia Care Program Benefits at Buckner Villas

Buckner Villas is the premier choice for dementia care for seniors in Austin. We provide care services in a welcoming, home-like environment where residents live as independently as possible, with 24-hour access to support and supervision. We understand the challenges of a dementia diagnosis and are here to help seniors and their families live their best lives. Call 512.580.9882 or complete our contact form to learn more about our dementia care program benefits.