Dementia

When one hears about dementia, the normal correlation is to Alzheimer’s Disease. In reality there are more than a dozen different types of dementia. While dementia is truly an umbrella term for brain failure symptoms that affects daily life, it should not be viewed as a normal part of the aging process.

A woman in patterned scrubs helping a person in a wheelchair in a bright patient lounge with large windows and floral murals on the wall.

At Byron Wellness Community, we have residents with Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as residents with vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Bodies, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and mixed dementia. Each of these different types of dementia present their own unique symptoms, and therefore, unique interventions.

Residents who experience frontotemporal dementia are much more likely to have behavioral changes first and then start to have issues with speech and words while a resident with Lewy bodies is more likely to have visual hallucinations and issues with sleep.We pride ourselves on our ability to meet each resident where they are. Outside of required education that all staff receive upon hire and annually thereafter, we also take the time to come up with resident-specific interventions with the assistance of the whole interdisciplinary team. One resident may prefer a bath first thing every morning, as this helps him to feel safe and comfortable while another resident may just need a special book of pictures from her childhood to help decrease agitation related to memory loss. One of the most difficult aspects of watching a family member go through the process of emotional, cognitive, verbal and physical loss, is the inability to relate to them any longer.

Two women are engaging in an arm wrestling match at a table, smiling and laughing, with a man sitting in the background.

Dementia treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

An elderly woman sitting at a table during daytime with a large mug, a pink plate, a pink napkin, a cupcake with a white flower, and a black container, in a room with large windows and a patio outside.

Some spouses can no longer remember they are married. Mom doesn’t have a recollection of her children. It is important to our team to also assist the family with challenges they have during this transition. Our Resident Engagement Specialists, Move-In Coordinator and Life Enrichment staff as well as Nursing staff are available to family members for questions about the progress of the disease, ideas on how to connect in a different way to their changing family member, as well as an emotional shoulder to lean on when the challenge becomes too much.

And like any other resident at Byron, our residents with dementia are not viewed in a lens of what they can’t do, but for what they are still able to do. Residents on our secured neighborhoods participate in daily activities and weekly outings, horticulture and art therapy, as well as listening to live music in our Eakin Family room. We make laughter a part of each day as well as celebrate big and little moments in their lives. There is no cure for dementia, and until that day comes, we will assist our residents in living their life to the fullest.

Learn more about our Cognitive Engagement Services here
Two elderly people, one man and one woman, sitting in a room with decorations and hats, smiling. The woman is in a wheelchair.
A man with glasses and curly hair standing behind a woman in a wheelchair in a hospital or care facility, both smiling. The woman has a nasal oxygen tube and is wearing a beige shirt, with a plush green toy bird on her chair. The background shows hospital or care facility furnishings.
A man with glasses and curly hair standing behind a woman in a wheelchair in a hospital or care facility, both smiling. The woman has a nasal oxygen tube and is wearing a beige shirt, with a plush green toy bird on her chair. The background shows hospital or care facility furnishings.
Two women holding small dogs in a room with chairs and a painting of a sunset over a field of sunflowers.
Two women holding small dogs in a room with chairs and a painting of a sunset over a field of sunflowers.
Group of diverse young women and a person in a wheelchair walking outdoors on a sidewalk, smiling, during a sunny day with a partly cloudy sky and trees in the background.
Group of diverse young women and a person in a wheelchair walking outdoors on a sidewalk, smiling, during a sunny day with a partly cloudy sky and trees in the background.
Three women engage in a game of cornhole outdoors on a sunny day. One woman in a wheelchair is throwing a beanbag, while two women stand nearby smiling. They are on a paved area with a grassy background and trees.
Three women engage in a game of cornhole outdoors on a sunny day. One woman in a wheelchair is throwing a beanbag, while two women stand nearby smiling. They are on a paved area with a grassy background and trees.
A man with a walker decorated with American flags walking on a red carpet. He is wearing a pinstriped suit with white sneakers. Behind him, a woman is smiling and other people are present in the background at an indoor event.
A man with a walker decorated with American flags walking on a red carpet. He is wearing a pinstriped suit with white sneakers. Behind him, a woman is smiling and other people are present in the background at an indoor event.