Personalized Memory Care
Every case of dementia is different and you can't use a one size fits all philosophy. At Brookshire we take the time to learn our residents background and habits to better manage behaviors and keep the residents at peace. We strive to keep them involved and active with very dementia focused activities that keeps the brain active and to foster a sense of purpose.
Trained Team
Our team at Brookshire receives intensive training on dementia and how it affects the brain. We take them through step by step all possible scenarios and situations that might accrue and how to manage them. We also have Certified Dementia Practitioner's on staff to provide training and guidance to our team. All this inclusive care is supervised by our nursing staff who puts the final touch to our program.
Our Dementia Core Beliefs
Our Dementia Care at Brookshire is founded eight dementia core beliefs:
- Respect
- Understanding
- Safely
- Quality of Life
- Engagement
- Purpose
- Team work
- Education
10 Early Warning Signs of Dementia You Shouldn’t Ignore
How to spot symptoms that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s or dementia
But persistent difficulty with memory, cognition and ability to perform everyday tasks might be signs of something more serious.
Visiting loved ones over the holiday
When the holidays come around families will get together and they might start to notice certain changes in their loved ones. Families who don’t get to visit as often might notice extreme changes, some of those are listed below. Other warning signs would be stacks of unpaid bills, clutter, hoarding, disheveled and unkept appearance, and disorientation
What is dementia?
Dementia isn’t actually a disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s a catch-all term for changes in the brain that cause a loss of functioning that interferes with daily life. It can diminish focus, the ability to pay attention, language skills, problem-solving and visual perception. Dementia can also make it difficult for a person to control his or her emotions and can even lead to personality changes.
Roughly 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, though many experts say that number is probably higher. And its prevalence is projected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050, according to a 2022 report from the Alzheimer's Association. Globally, over 55 million people have dementia, the World Health Organization estimate
If it is dementia, you’ll want to plan how you will manage care, especially as the condition progresses.
10 warning signs of dementia
Here are some symptoms to watch for:
- Difficulty with everyday tasks. Everyone makes mistakes, but people with dementia may find it increasingly difficult to do things like keep track of monthly bills or follow a recipe while cooking, the Alzheimer’s Association says. They may also find it hard to concentrate on tasks, take much longer to do them or have trouble finishing them.
- Repetition. Asking a question over and over or telling the same story about a recent event multiple times are common indicators of mild or moderate Alzheimer's, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
- Communication problems. Observe if a loved one has trouble joining in conversations or following along with them, stops abruptly in the middle of a thought or struggles to think of words or the name of objects.
- Getting lost. People with dementia may have difficulty with visual and spatial abilities. That can manifest itself in problems like getting lost while driving, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Personality changes. A loved one who begins acting unusually anxious, confused, fearful or suspicious, or who becomes upset easily and seems depressed is cause for concern.
- Confusion about time and place.If someone forgets where they are or can’t remember how they got there, that's a red flag. Another worrisome sign is disorientation about time — for example, routinely forgetting what day of the week it is, says Jason Karlawish, M.D., a neurologist and professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and codirector of the Penn Memory Center.
- Misplacing things. Someone with dementia may put things in unusual places and may have difficulty retracing their steps to find misplaced items, the Alzheimer’s Association notes.
- Troubling behavior. If your family member seems to have increasingly poor judgment when handling money or neglects grooming and cleanliness, pay attention.
- Loss of interest.Not feeling especially social from time to time is one thing, but a sudden and routine loss of interest in family, friends, work and social events is a warning sign of dementia.
- Forgetting old memories.Memory loss that becomes more persistent is often one of the first signs of dementia.
Some people who experience memory loss or have difficulty with attention, decision-making language or reasoning may have a condition known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The condition causes a noticeable decline, but the changes are less severe than with dementia and a person can still perform normal daily activities, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
People with MCI are at an increased risk of developing dementia.
Where to find help
When your loved one is displaying troubling symptoms, a trip to a primary care physician is often the first step. But to get a definitive diagnosis, you’ll need to see a specialist such as a neurologist, geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist.
When the situation worsens there are several options when care at home is no longer an option there are multiple avenues for help which your doctor can help with. Long term placement may be necessary in a dedicated community where they have a memory care component. Talk to your doctor of a certified senior advisor of a certified dementia practitioner.