Dementia is a complex condition that impacts an estimated 6.7 million Americans and their families. It can leave families feeling overwhelmed. However, understanding dementia, how it progresses, and how to support a loved one diagnosed with the condition helps families to maintain meaningful connections throughout life.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for a progressive decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life. It is not a specific disease but rather a collection of symptoms caused by underlying disorders, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal disorders. While dementia symptoms vary by type and individual, they generally include memory loss, impaired reasoning, language difficulties, and changes in mood or behavior.

Receiving a dementia diagnosis often begins with recognizing signs of dementia such as forgetfulness, confusion, or personality changes. A thorough evaluation typically includes a medical history review, cognitive and neurological tests, brain imaging, and lab tests to rule out other causes of cognitive decline. Early diagnosis is critical because it allows for better planning, treatment, and support services.

While each person's journey with dementia is unique, it generally progresses through three stages: early, middle, and late. Understanding these stages of dementia can help families and friends provide appropriate support and know how to care for someone with dementia.

What Are the Stages of Dementia?

1. Early Stage (Mild Dementia)

In the early stage, individuals may experience mild memory lapses, difficulty finding words, or trouble with planning and organization. They can still live independently but may need reminders and assistance with complex tasks.

How to support someone with mild dementia:

• Encourage a healthy lifestyle, including exercise and a balanced diet.
• Implement memory aids such as calendars, to-do lists, and labeled drawers.
• Foster social engagement and mental stimulation through hobbies, reading, and games.
• Discuss future care preferences and legal/financial planning while the individual can still make decisions.

2. Middle Stage (Moderate Dementia)

As dementia progresses, memory loss becomes more pronounced, and individuals may struggle with daily activities such as dressing, cooking, or managing medications. Behavioral changes, including agitation and confusion, may also occur.

How to support someone with moderate dementia:

• Establish a structured daily routine to reduce confusion and anxiety.
• Provide clear, simple instructions and break tasks into manageable steps.
• Ensure a safe home environment by removing tripping hazards
• If wandering is a concern, put appropriate safeguards in place, like locks, alarms, smart home tech, and/or GPS-enabled medical alert systems.
• Alternately, if wandering is a concern, consider enlisting the help of dementia care professionals within a secured memory support environment.
• Offer emotional support and patience, as frustration and mood swings may become more frequent.

3. Late Stage (Severe Dementia)

In the late stage, individuals may lose the ability to communicate verbally, recognize loved ones, or perform basic functions like eating or walking. They require full-time care and assistance with all activities of daily living.

How to support someone with severe dementia:

• Focus on comfort and dignity, ensuring proper hygiene, pain management, and skin care.
• Use nonverbal communication methods such as gentle touch, music, and soothing tones.
• Provide soft foods and assist with feeding to prevent choking or malnutrition.
• Seek professional care, whether through a skilled nursing home, in-home caregivers, or hospice services, to ensure the best quality of life.

Get the Right Dementia Care for Your Loved One at Chapel Pointe

Caring for someone with dementia can be challenging, but understanding the stages can help caregivers offer the right support at the right time. If you or a loved one is affected by dementia, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance like those offered at Chapel Pointe, a faith-based continuing care retirement community. We commit each day to serving and enhancing the quality of life for people aged 62 and over in Central Pennsylvania, offering amenities and services to boost our residents’ physical, mental, and spiritual health. We’re honored that our greater community sees the servant’s heart of our nonprofit organization and consistently selects Chapel Pointe as “The Best of Cumberland County.”

The Garden View Memory Support Household at Chapel Pointe accommodates and supports the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory-impairing conditions. We learn each resident’s unique needs and preferences and then create an individualized program of activities and care based on those preferences. Garden View makes the world a little smaller and easier to comprehend. Up to twelve residents live in this home-like environment with a garden, professional caring staff, peers who relate, and opportunities to have a meaningful life.

Contact us to learn more about our memory care offerings and how Chapel Pointe can help your loved one to live their best life!