4 things to know about the stages of dementia

Welcome to the place where I share dementia tips, strategies, and information for family members caring for a loved one with any type of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)

In today’s video, I share 4 important pieces of information to keep in mind anytime you are thinking about the stages of dementia. Next week, I’ll share some different tools to help you determine what stage of dementia your loved one is in.

______________

FREE Resource:

💌 [LET’S CONNECT]

_____________
CHECK OUT MY POPULAR PLAYLISTS

Dealing with Challenging Behaviors:

______________

OTHER VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Find out: "why you should lie to your loved one with dementia"
__

In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

[luananoel]

Thank you for all that you do to help us understand what's happening with our LOWD. You are a blessing to us all. Enjoy the rain 🌧 💙.

[feliciakramarz]

I’m glad I discovered you Dr. Natalie as I am just past the beginning of this journey with my mother. She turns 90 at the end of this month! You are providing an extremely valuable service personally for me at this time in my life with my mother.

[elisabethm]

One of the most difficult things about staging is that dementia is like cancer...no one ever just has ‘cancer’...they have a type.

Yes, all dementias are about irreversible neural degeneration, but Lewy Body Dementia is very different from Frontal Temporal or Alzheimer’s- and sometimes our loved ones have multiple types. It’s always the kind neural degeneration along with the individual’s own genetics and life experience that determine the diagnosis and the pattern of their particular dementia. Of course, it’s all ‘downhill’ over time...but there’s lots of bumps and byways on the journey.

Because the greatest majority of dementias are incurable and terminal, I think the desire for models like staging comes from a very real need to feel some level of control, if only the ‘control’ of knowing where one is ... so I like to think of staging as a kind of ‘map’ written by a drunk uncle on the back of a cocktail napkin. It makes you feel better at three am when you’re running out of gas and you know that in reality, you’re just going to have to wait for sunrise.

Thank you for this series...on those days when my tank is almost dry, knowing that there are people who understand and have good information helps to keep me going. And while you and all the other medical professionals out there are way better than inebriated relatives at helping us caregivers endure this process - we have to remember that having a map of any kind is no substitute for the journey itself. And some parts are more difficult than others...today I’m in the valley of poopy depends and a whole lotta laundry. But it’s accompanied by the love of a man who’s convinced I’m the most beautiful woman in the world and he just asked me to marry him!😍🥵🤩🤯

[thomasgregg]

My mom is passing on now. I wanted to post how much your videos helped us with her. Made a huge difference. So thank you.

[carolthetford]

Thank you can't wait for next week video. My experience with mom is last year hip surgery exhillerated her dementia.

[carmendelgado]

Thanks Dr. Natali for giving support at this period in my life. Each day is a new challenge for me with my LO

[lynningram]

My husband has dementia and you have help me in so many ways on how to handle him during illness. Thank you so much for your videos.

[ritamarsh]

Thank you so much for this much-needed channel. You have been a life ( and sanity) saver! Bless you!!❤🙏

[rubydeal]

Hi, I just started caregiving a few months ago at a residential living facility and have been spending a lot of time working in the “memory care” unit so I spend a lot of time working with people with dementia, and I’m determined to learn more about dementia so I can better communicate and care for them. I’ve learned a lot from your videos but I’ve noticed most of them are addressed to family members of people with dementia, and it’s a little different care giving for people who aren’t family members of yours because I feel like there’s less trust there and I have to communicate with them differently than say their family member would.. I’d love to see you make some videos and give advice on caregiving for people who aren’t your family member.. I find myself seeking advice for times where the residents have hallucinations and delusions and how to comfort them without telling them that what they are seeing or experiencing isn’t necessarily real and times where they seem to get very angry for seemingly no reason and the best way to deal with that without getting stressed yourself .. hope this makes sense thank you

[brendarice]

Thank you so much for helping me understand the concept of dementia on a continuum.

[sashanbet]

Thank you for your logical and clear explanations. You really help me a lot. I thank you.

[ednasheffield]

Thank you Dr. Natali, someone asked me just today what stage my LO is in. I told them the stages sometime seem to overlap so I will be so happy to learn more.

[carmendelgado]

Thanks Dr. Natali for your support n great information I listen to all the videos and find them very helpful in this hard times which never thought would happen .its not easy but I am hanging in there gracias

[scrappytexan]

I am main careblazer for 91 father. He started 6 yrs ago. I truly believe the sudden death of my mom bought it on. They were married 54 years. It fluctuates day to day. I need resources about handling my own frustration.

[curly]

Thank you for your very helpful videos Dr Natali. I wonder if I may sugggest a topic for a future video: the lack of appetite. My mother, who has Alzheimer, has gone from constantly asking for food to lack of appetite almost overnight.

[LaDyMaXx]

Hi, Dr. Natalie, I appreciate your videos. And love that you love to listen to thunder! Me too😄 Q: How regularly should a loved one be assessed? And what kind of assessment is available when they reach advanced stage? My mum is 4 years into her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her GP says she is advanced & that it would be difficult to do the standard evaluations. I feel there should still be some sort of annual checkup. Family divided on this issue. Help!🙏🏾

[terrybrockway]

Thank-you for you YouTube channel. My wife picks her skin causing sores on her face, legs, and arms. Heard there is a medication for this condition. Any help will be appreciated. Thank-you Again.

[jozeflak]

Dr Natalie thank you for your helpful video Thank you for your time and I do like your hair color

[brookenicoley]

Hi! I am new to your channel, I browsed through all of your videos, I was hoping to find one with a title about dementia and alcohol (abuse). Is there one you can point me to where you cover that or maybe make a short video? Or anywhere else you can point me with some info? Thank you!! - Brooke

[TheVicki]

My mother died of dementia at the age of 72 last on sept 7th 2020