October 2, 2024

Changing the Story: Dismantling Stigmas About Dementia and Living Fully

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

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“At 93, so deep in dementia that she didn’t remember any details of her life, my mother somehow still knew songs.”

That observation by the American writer and poet Floyd Skloot illustrates a simple truth: Although some 55 million people worldwide are living with some form of dementia today, there is still much we don’t understand about it. Myths and misunderstandings abound, even as we watch it play out in real time in the lives of loved ones — and as we seek to provide the best and fullest life we can for them.

“At 93, so deep in dementia that she didn’t remember any details of her life, my mother somehow still knew songs.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association®, nearly 7 million Americans are living with dementia, and that number is expected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia , was the fifth-leading cause of death among people age 65 and older in 2021, the association says. Meanwhile, it adds, healthcare and long-term care costs for people living with dementia are expected to hit $360 billion in 2024 and nearly $1 trillion in 2050.

Dementia is often shrouded in stigmas that can exacerbate the challenges that individuals face. Addressing stigmas associated with dementia means debunking common myths such as these:

1. Dementia is a disease. Dementia is not a specific disease. Instead, dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of cognitive impairments that affect memory, thinking or the ability to make decisions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but there are other forms as well, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.

2. Dementia affects only older adults. Dementia is most associated with older adults, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association®, researchers believe that about 200,000 Americans between the ages of 30 and 64 — about 110 out of every 100,000 — may have younger-onset dementia.

3. Dementia is a normal part of aging. Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging — but dementia is not. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says that normal aging may look like forgetting which day it is and remembering it later, missing a monthly bill, or losing things from time to time. Signs of dementia, however, could look like frequently making poor decisions, problems keeping up with bills month after month, trouble having a conversation, and misplacing things often.

4. Dementia affects only memory. Although people with dementia often experience memory loss, there are other signs and symptoms as well. The NIA says that dementia may also cause problems with communication, visual perception, or focus and attention.

Embracing Life to the Fullest With a Dementia Diagnosis

Perhaps one of the most common myths about dementia is that it is impossible to live a fulfilling life after a diagnosis. However, people diagnosed with dementia can live well with dementia. Here are some tips that may help.

1. Focus on physical health. Adopting a healthy lifestyle — exercising regularly, maintaining a well-balanced diet and drinking minimal amounts of alcohol — can help individuals with dementia live well as long as possible.

2. Avoid stress. It’s important for individuals living with dementia — and those who care for them — to identify triggers that cause anxiety, worry and stress and to seek out ways to help prevent stressful situations. Routines can also help reduce stress and anxiety to minimize fear of the unknown.

3. Ensure the right care team is in place. The Alzheimer’s Association® recommends building a care team of people who will provide help, care and support for the duration of the diagnosis. This care team can include family members, close friends, neighbors, physicians and other healthcare providers. The Alzheimer’s Association® says that building this team can help individuals “lead a more productive, active and engaged life while living in the early stage of the disease.”

How Brookdale Senior Living Helps Individuals Living With Dementia

At Brookdale, we understand the challenges of those living with dementia, as well as the challenges faced by their caregivers. When a resident joins one of our Clare Bridge® memory care communities, we conduct a thorough assessment to develop a holistic plan to help secure the highest quality of life and well-being. We review medical history, medications, routines and individual preferences.

We design programs and activities that help foster independence and keep residents socially connected, engaged and confident in their own abilities. We are focused on relationship-rich care, high-quality services and providing supportive environments.

To learn more about Brookdale’s Clare Bridge® memory care communities, call us at (844) 993-0047 or start with a live chat here.

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