Facts on Dementia

Understanding Dementia Behaviors and Andmore Care's Innovative Approach

Skills Decline Before Strength:

Dementia impairs fine motor skills and task execution before affecting physical abilities. For example, individuals may struggle to button a shirt despite having the strength to do so. This decline is often misunderstood as defiance.

Insight: Dementia reduces abilities gradually, but care strategies can compensate for these losses.
Andmore Care Approach: By training caregivers to recognize and address these specific challenges, Andmore Care ensures tasks are completed with dignity and respect, using patience and tailored guidance.

Visible Brain Changes:

The physical impact of dementia is profound, leading to significant brain shrinkage. By the later stages, individuals may lose up to two-thirds of their brain tissue. These changes explain the root of behavioral shifts.

Perspective: Visualizing these changes fosters empathy and informed caregiving.
Andmore Care Approach: Andmore Care uses ongoing education to help caregivers understand the biological basis of dementia, promoting more empathetic and effective responses.

Disrupted Communication Pathways:

The deterioration of white matter in the brain disrupts connections between regions, making it difficult for individuals to process information, learn new tasks, or recall memories.

Analogy: Damaged “wiring” slows down or prevents the brain from sending clear messages.
Andmore Care Approach: Andmore Care emphasizes communication strategies that simplify interactions, reducing frustration for both clients and caregivers.

Memory and Spatial Challenges:

The hippocampus, responsible for memory and navigation, is significantly impacted by dementia. For example, someone might pour water on the floor, unable to recognize how to use a bottle.

Example: Such behaviors are not deliberate but reflect the brain’s inability to connect actions to their purposes.
Andmore Care Approach: Andmore Care uses hands-on training to teach caregivers how to demonstrate tasks step-by-step, restoring confidence and functionality for individuals with dementia.

Sensory Overload and Behavioral Agitation:

Declines in the sensory-motor system can make loud or busy environments overwhelming, causing agitation. Recognizing this as sensory overload, not misbehavior, is crucial.

Strategy: Adjusting environments can alleviate distress.
Andmore Care Approach: Andmore Care creates personalized care plans that minimize sensory triggers, ensuring clients feel calm and secure.

Caregiver Adaptability:

Dementia requires caregivers to anticipate challenges and adapt their responses. Demonstrating, guiding, and modifying environments are essential tools.

Role of Caregivers: They substitute for the brain functions clients have lost.
Andmore Care Approach: Andmore Care equips caregivers with innovative tools and training to think critically and provide proactive support tailored to each client’s unique needs.