It has been estimated that over five million Americans have dementia. Many people at risk for dementia, including those aged sixty-five and older, family members of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease, or anyone who shares similar characteristics to someone at high risk for developing the disease, are unaware of its symptoms and how to manage it.

Dementia is a disease that affects the brain but does not affect behavior. Dementia patients have problems with their memory, communication skills, and judgment.

Some Common Types of Dementia:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Vascular Dementia
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Parkinson’s Disease affects cognition

People who have dementia can still work or take care of themselves, provided they have the proper help and support.

How Do You Know If Someone May Be Suffering from Dementia?

There is a noticeable difference between people who are simply getting older and those who suffer from memory loss as a symptom of dementia. You may notice language changes such as repeating words or phrases, using the wrong words, or losing the ability to communicate at all.

As you look for these signs, try talking with them about shared memories from the past, such as a trip you took together or something they did during their childhood. This helps verify your memory of that event and shows that they recognize it too.

How Does One Manage Medication for People with Dementia?

To manage medication, a person with dementia needs to have a thorough understanding of their illness. This can be difficult because the symptoms of dementia make it hard for them to remember their condition and disease.

In some cases, a psychiatrist may recommend drugs that improve memory loss once doctors have identified specific symptoms and possible causes.

These drugs include cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne).

With these drugs, an elderly patient should be aware of possible side effects, which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and dizziness.

These medications will not cure dementia but will improve the quality of life for people who suffer from it. However, there is strong evidence that these drugs do not work for everyone, and they have been linked to side effects such as liver damage. For this reason, some doctors suggest alternative treatments such as exercise and healthy eating habits to manage memory loss symptoms.

If you are worried about a loved one who may be suffering from dementia and have little or no access to insured healthcare in the US, make sure you learn about the best available prescription assistance programs in America. Advocate My Meds is here as your full-service prescription assistance organization. We provide the best financial assistance for prescriptions. Contact us today and see how we can help you with your prescriptions.