Common Dementia Behavior Changes You Should Know About
Unfortunately, dementia affects many people around the world. This can be a frustrating and sometimes even dangerous disease. A person with dementia can experience many behavior changes that you should know about. If your loved one doesn’t yet have a dementia diagnosis, if you recognize these changes, you may want to have them checked out for dementia.
Home Care in Greenwood IN: Common Dementia Behavior Changes
Threatening or Aggressive Behaviors
Has your loved one started hitting you or others? Are they throwing things? Do they scream and yell at people who love them? If they are experiencing these threatening or aggressive behavior changes, they may have unmet needs that they can’t express in other ways. They may be frustrated, bored, or even in pain. Try to assess their needs to see what is going on.
Fear, Worry, or Anxiety
Many people with dementia will feel fearful, worry a lot, or have anxiety. If this is something new your elderly loved one is experiencing, it may be time to have them checked out by a doctor. They could have dementia. Make sure you have their elderly care providers keep an eye out for this, as well.
Apathy
Does your loved one have no desire to do something they used to love? Are they feeling down or out-of-sorts? If this is the case, you may want to have them checked out by a doctor. There could be many things going on and dementia could be one of them.
Hallucinations, Delusions, or Delirium
When someone has dementia, they could experience hallucinations, delusions, or delirium. These things are real to them. Fighting or arguing with them about these things won’t work. However, you can have them seen by a doctor to see if they have dementia or another mental health illness going on.
Impulsive Behaviors
Maybe your elderly loved one has become impulsive lately. This may have come out of nowhere or it may have been slowly happening. They may feel like they can do anything and express themselves in any way. If this is something you are noticing, you may want to check with their doctor to have them assessed for dementia.
There are many behavioral changes that can be seen with dementia. Whenever you are taking care of an elderly loved one, these are some of the things that you should look out for. You never know when dementia could sneak up on them. Sometimes people might even experience early-onset dementia. This could happen when they are a bit younger and it may catch you off-guard. Start looking out for these symptoms today. You might be surprised to learn that your loved one has dementia.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care in Greenwood, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
Sources
Nia.nih.gov
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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