The thought of suffering from dementia will scare even the strongest of men. Having to sit by and watch yourself or a loved one slowly deteriorate, both mentally and physically, is no easy weight to bear and all parties involved have to go through a significant amount of pain and distress. However, it is important that you remember that just because you have been diagnosed with dementia, it does not mean your life is over.
There are still many things one can continue to do even after being diagnosed with dementia. Living with dementia has become much more manageable with developments in medicine and if you keep yourself engaged, you can prolong the effects of some of the symptoms associated with dementia.
DEMENTIA
Dementia itself is not an illness or a symptom, but rather a group of symptoms which affect the body in consonance with one another, otherwise known as a syndrome. Most symptoms affect the brain and its functioning leading to issues with memory, cognitive ability, and comprehension. This can cause serious shifts in one’s expression, both physical and verbal, judgment, language, and mood, and patients are in such a disgruntled state due to these symptoms and effects that controlling emotions gets difficult.
Studies have attributed genetics and environmental factors as the two root causes for most cases of dementia, which itself can manifest in a variety of forms and illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Patients tend to become apathetic and uninterested with life in general and their behavior can be difficult to control especially if this apathy is mixed with other cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
LIVING BETTER WITH DEMENTIA
As mentioned above, one can still maintain their quality of life despite the adverse effects of dementia on one’s life and their family. Just because you’ve seen what dementia can do to other people does not mean the same will happen to you as dementia affects people with different speeds and levels of aggression. Some manage to spend 20 or even 30 years living with this illness. Remember that you are still you and nothing can stop you from focusing on things you enjoy.
You can make changes in your life that will keep your mind focused and will exercise it so it doesn’t lose any sharpness. In fact, with the world having become advanced both socially and technologically, there are so many different tools you can buy that will help you achieve this. One example is dementia clocks, or memory clocks as they are known in some places, which help dementia patients keep track of time and dates more easily and reduce overall disorientation. The design and functionality of these watches also keep the mind engaged. Head on over to https://dementia.livebetterwith.com/collections/clocks-watches if you want to check one out for yourself.
KEEP YOUR MIND ENGAGED
If you’ve been diagnosed with dementia, it is vital that you keep your mind engaged. Buy puzzle books and board games so you keep exercising your mind in your free time. There are also many games and apps available on both Apple and Android specifically built for dementia patients so they can keep their minds occupied even on the go. The more you exercise your brain, the more you will prolong the onset of any serious symptoms.