Your mother or father has been growing old gracefully, but one day you begin to notice some changes in your parent’s behavior.  These changes grow more pronounced over the next few days, weeks, and months.  Your mother gets confused about the year or her relationship to you.  Your father’s mood swings wildly, and he is suddenly prone to bouts of confusion and anger.  What’s going on?  Where is the parent that you know and love?

Dementia, a cognitive syndrome that is largely incurable, affects a number of older adults.  It can be caused by injury to the brain or by long-term disease or damage.  It affects the brain’s ability to remember details, problem solve, process language, and focus.  Once it develops, it progresses, and gradually worsens.  While the symptoms can be treated, the chances of it being reversed or disappearing are quite slim.  It can be scary, confusing, and frustrating for both the person suffering from dementia, and their family members.  There are a number of assistance options in the Long Beach and South Bay areas.  It is wise to seek outside help from a local home health aide in Long Beach Palos Verdes, Torrance, Redondo Beach or other South Bay city, who is familiar with working with adults with dementia.  With the assistance of a trained aide, it is possible to deal with dementia with the same grace that was always a part of your parent.

 

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