Dementia: a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
                                                                                                                                                    - Oxford Dictionary
Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia.
                                                                                                                                              - Alzheimer's Association

Overview of Dementia and Causes

Often when one thinks about dementia they relate it to Alzheimer's Disease, which is one of the leading causes. That's because, according to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. 

Click on the Alzheimer's Association logo for a more complete definition of Dementia.

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Most forms of dementia, like Alzheimer's, are not reversible. There are some times when a person might experience symptoms of dementia that can be reversed with proper help. Click on the Mayo Clinic logo to read about different forms of dementia and symptoms.

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How Your Brain Works

If you are interested in how a normal healthy brain works, and how disorders can affect it, click on the logo for the NINDS.

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Treatment & Care

​There is no treatment currently available to cure dementia or to alter its progressive course. Numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials. However, much can be offered to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers and families. The principal goals for dementia care are:

• early diagnosis in order to promote early and optimal management
• optimizing physical health, cognition, activity and well-being
• identifying and treating accompanying physical illness
• detecting and treating challenging behavioural and psychological symptoms
• providing information and long-term support to carers.

​(From the World Health Organization (who.int)

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Diagnosis and Dementia Medical Facilities

 If you are concerned about a loved one who has symptoms of dementia, speaking to a doctor is the best beginning. They can examine a person and detemine likely causes of symptoms. Then they can offer suggestions and medical treatments that might help. Creating a plan is the best way to remove some of the stress of dementia.

UVA HEALTH SYSTEM
The Neurosciences and Behavioral Health Center in Charlottesville has a clinic devoted to Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders. 
​434-924-0000 / Click on logo at right for their information.

Alzheimer's Disease

The 10 signs of Alzheimer's Disease

The Alzheimer's Association has established 10 warning signs for Alzheimer's Disease with the idea that early detection can make it more manageable for the person and their caregivers. Click on the video at right to listen, or click the button below to view a graphic.

10 Warning Signs for Alzheimer's Disease

Caregiver Help & Support

Tips for Dementia Caregivers 
Someone who may be confused augments challenges of caregiving during a pandemic like COVID-19.  The Alzheimer's Association has tips for caregiving at home,  and for those in long term care facilities. They also offer insight into moving loved ones either to a facility or back home, prevention guidance like how to encourage handwashing, and many more ideas.

Terms & Resources
Move to this page from the Alzheimers' Association website for a comprehensive glossary pertaining to dementia, as well as numerous resources highlighting each subject. 

Aging Together's Caregiver Support
Click the button at right to move to our Caregiver Support page. We are consistently adding information & resources to help family & direct-care caregivers.

Ideas for Activities
Activity is important for the wellbeing of the person living with dementia as well as for caregiver respite. Click on the button at right to to to our Activity and Exercise page. Specific activities that are "dementia friendly" are marked. We are working to add new activities regularly.

COVID-19 Dementia Care Tips

Alzheimer's Association Glossary

Caregiver Support

Activities

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Quick Help Contacts

This information is intended to inform and help. Resource links and contact information are subject to change
​without the knowledge of Aging Together. Please alert us if you find discrepencies. 
SOME RESOURCES ARE LIMITED DURING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD.

I NEED HELP	Tool or Resource	Website	Phone Number
Alzheimer's Questions	Alzheimer's Associatoin	www.alz.org	24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900
My loved one is wandering	"Wandering Support" Bracelet	MedicAlert Foundation	​1-800-432-5378
Respite Funds Help	Virginia Lifepsan Respite Voucher Program	https://www.vda.virginia.gov/vlrv.htm ​	(804) 662-9333 ​
Support Groups	Check back - limited due to COVID-19	List of current support groups	n/a
Activities	Aging Together	https://www.agingtogether.org/activities--exercise.html	n/a
Where  to find a ​ Long Term Care Facilitiy	Community Resource Finder (click on Housing Options)	https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/	n/a
Adult Day Care	Check back	n/a	n/a

Email Aging Together with questions

How Can I help?

DEMENTIA FRIENDS
"Dementia Friends USA is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is underway in the USA. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia." - Dementia Friends website

Aging Together began Dementia Friends training sessions in 2019. But because of the pandemic real-life trainings are in hiatus. However, you can still become a Dementia Friend by completing the online program which only takes about an hour. By becoming a Dementia Friend, you understand how to better communicate and respond if approached by a person living with dementia in a business or public place. 

Become a Dementia Friend by clicking on the logo at right. If you complete the program, please let us know (info@agingtogether.org) so we can add you to our database of regional Dementia Friends! And thank you!