Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with —dementia. Alicia Seaver is the Director of Memory Care at Bridges® by EPOCH and is a certified memory impairment specialist. This month’s topic is dementia and depression.
It’s a sad truth that dementia and depression often go hand-in-hand. In the early stages of dementia, worry over losing memory in the future may cause feeling of sadness and hopelessness. As the condition progresses, dementia causes chemical changes in the brain that can lead to depression as well. And if that weren’t cyclic enough, depression can exacerbate dementia’s symptoms, including increased agitation, decreased energy and loss of self-worth.
It’s important for caregivers to recognize when a loved one is experiencing depression on top of dementia so that both illnesses can be properly treated.
Depression is particularly common in individuals with Vascular Dementia or Parkinson’s. However, regardless of the type of dementia your loved one has, persistent negative feelings—such as sadness and hopelessness—are something to look out for. Other signs of depression include:
- A constant irritable or agitated mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities and socializing
- Difficulty focusing or making decisions
- Aches and pains with no physical cause
- Fatigue, loss of energy and sleep disturbances
- Decreased appetite or refusal to eat
If you notice these symptoms in your loved one, or feel as though their condition is deteriorating more rapidly than expected, it’s time to schedule an appointment with his or her physician.
If a doctor diagnoses your loved one with depression, there are multiple treatment options available. Medication and counseling are the more obvious clinical treatments, but there are also things you as a caregiver can do to help your loved one:
- Make sure they get plenty of physical activity
- Ensure your loved one is maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Consider finding a support group for your loved one
- Stick to a predictable daily routine
- Engage in activities your loved one enjoys
- Provide emotional support to your loved one; reassure them that they are loved, respected and valued
- Give your loved one appropriate daily responsibilities
- Avoid stimuli that bothers your loved one (bright lights, loud noises, etc.)
Depression and dementia is a difficult combination to handle for both you and your loved one alike. That said, it’s important to always respond to your loved one with patience, kindness and reassurance. To get the support you need, consider attending a support group at a Bridges by EPOCH community near you.
If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].