Duración
2 Hours
Dementia - Understanding Dementia and Empathizing with Those Who Have it
What is Dementia?
About 1 in 10 Americans who are 65+ have dementia. However, this percentage rises significantly with age (5% for 65 to 74 vs. 33% for 85 and older).
Dementia is not a single disease but rather a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by various diseases and conditions that affect the brain, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common type.
Impact on the Brain: Dementia damages brain cells and affects communication between them. When this happens, thinking, behavior, and feelings can change.
Key Symptoms: Common symptoms include:
Memory Loss: Particularly difficulty recalling recent events or information.
Communication Challenges: Trouble finding the right words or following conversations.
Changes in Problem Solving/Reasoning: Difficulty with tasks that require planning or organization.
Confusion and Disorientation: Getting lost in familiar places or confusion about time and date.
Personality and Behavior Changes: Mood swings, anxiety, agitation, or wandering.
Progression: Dementia is generally progressive, meaning symptoms start slowly and worsen over time. Understanding the stage of dementia your loved one is in helps tailor care approaches.
Stepping into the shoes of a senior with Dementia:
Understanding the experience of someone who has dementia will help us to better empathize with and care for our clients. Hear from Jim, who describes the experience of living with dementia - and the associated stigma and the challenges in communicating and maintaining dignity
Understanding the experience of a caregiver:
Becoming a caregiver for someone with dementia can be daunting. The video below helps to describe the journey of caring for a loved one with dementia:
Dementia: Specific Challenges for a Son or Daughter Caregiver
When the caregiver is the senior's child, the emotional dynamic is fundamentally altered. The "parent-child" relationship reverses, creating specific emotional and logistical hurdles:
Role Reversal & Loss of the "Parent" Figure: The hardest challenge is often grieving the loss of your parent as you knew them, while they are still alive. You must make decisions for them, shifting from being cared for to the primary decision-maker.
Emotional Baggage and Family Dynamics: Pre-existing family dynamics or past conflicts can resurface and complicate care decisions. Siblings may disagree on the level of care needed or financial contributions, placing the primary caregiver child in a difficult middle ground.
Guilt and Resentment: It's common to feel intense guilt ("Am I doing enough?") and simultaneous resentment ("I didn't sign up for this, I have my own family/career"). Acknowledging these complex feelings is crucial for mental health.
Privacy and Dignity: Managing intimate care tasks (bathing, dressing, toileting) for a parent can be incredibly awkward and painful. Maintaining your parent's dignity while performing these tasks requires careful communication and compassion.
Multigenerational Stress (The "Sandwich Generation"): Many adult children are simultaneously raising their own children, managing full-time jobs, and caring for an aging parent, leading to severe burnout and stress.
Support Resources for Caregiver Children:
Seek out local support groups—many are specifically designed for adult children of parents with dementia.
Utilize respite care services to take necessary breaks. MedTec can send other non-family caregivers to care for your parents so that you can have some time to care for yourself!
The Illinois Department on Aging offers resources and local Area Agencies on Aging can help connect caregivers to local support networks and services.