Caring for People With Dementia

The most common type of dementia; characterized by the permanent and progressive loss of the ability to think and remember caused by damage to the brain

An extreme reaction to a situation that would normally cause minimal or no stress; often seen in people with dementia

A temporary state of confusion

The permanent and progressive loss of the ability to think and remember

Caused by damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain; a person mayb show extreme changes in personality and behavior, have difficulties with language or both

A disorder characterized by damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for personality, behavior and lanugage; in addition to a progressive decline in mental abilities, people with frontotemporal dementia have extreme changes in behavior and personality, difficulties with language, or both

The inappropriate and constant repetition of a phrase or act; often seen in people with dementia

A technique used for interacting with people who have dementia, in which the person with dementia is encouraged to remember and share experiences from his or her past with others

The worsening of a person with dementia's behavioral symptoms in the late afternoon and evening (as the sun goes down)

A technique used for interacting with people who have dementia, in which the caregiver acknowledges the person's reality; rather than correcting the person, the caregiver attempts to distract the person and redirect the conversation whenever possible

A type of dementia caused by the loss of function in multiple areas of the brain due to tissue death caused by a lack of adequate oxygen and nutrients