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What Is the Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s?

Dementia is a serious and growing health concern affecting over 55 million people around the world. However, many mistakenly conflate the condition with Alzheimer’s Disease. Care highlights the differences between the two conditions and the importance of understanding them.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia describes a decline in cognitive function and mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is a common symptom. However, dementia can also impact reasoning, comprehension, language and spatial awareness. Different types of dementia have distinct symptoms and causes.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that primarily affects memory. It often starts with short-term memory loss, such as forgetting conversations, misplacing items and repeating oneself. As the disease progresses, it can also impact:

  • Language skills
  • Visual perception
  • Driving skills
  • Ability to manage finances or use technology

What are Other Forms of Dementia?

Besides Alzheimer’s disease, there are several other common types of dementia, each with unique symptoms and causes. Understanding these different types helps in recognizing symptoms and seeking appropriate care.

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

Lewy Body Dementia affects thinking, reasoning and processing information. It often presents with hallucinations and behavioral issues. People with LBD may experience agitation, memory problems and symptoms like Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors and slow movements.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to a stroke or chronic illness. Symptoms can include confusion, slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating and problems with organization. The symptoms vary depending on the location of the blocked or damaged blood vessels.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Frontotemporal Dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, language and movement. Symptoms can include changes in personality, behavior, language difficulties, memory loss and confusion.

How Is Dementia Diagnosed?

There isn’t a single test for dementia. Doctors instead use various sources of information, including patient history, family observations and physical exams, to determine the type of dementia. Cognitive testing and MRIs may also assess memory, attention, language and other cognitive abilities.

The Importance of Early Planning

The sooner someone facing a dementia diagnosis begins planning for their future care and financial decisions, the better for their loved ones. This planning involves discussing the person’s wishes and preparing legal documents.

“Have the conversation,” says Martha Mannix, a clinical associate professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. In an article by Tribdem, she emphasizes the importance of discussing who the person wants to be with, how they want to spend their time and putting themselves in the person’s shoes.

How Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives Can Help

Legal documents, like advance healthcare directives and financial power of attorney, are indispensable to protecting yourself against dementia. These documents ensure that power over your finances and healthcare lies with your family, not a court-appointed guardian. Establish a financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney and an advance healthcare directive to control your end-of-life care, emergency healthcare and finances.

Start Planning for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Today

If you or a loved one faces a dementia diagnosis, a good estate plan makes all the difference. Contact our law firm today to schedule a consultation and learn how estate planning can support you and your family in the face of cognitive decline.

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding Dementia: Dementia is a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, encompassing various symptoms beyond memory loss.
  • Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia, primarily affecting short-term memory and progressively impairing cognitive functions.
  • Different Types of Dementia: Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia each have distinct causes and symptoms, requiring unique approaches to care and treatment.
  • Have Essential Conversations: Discussing wishes and preparing legal documents, like advance healthcare directives and financial power of attorney, ensures that an individual’s preferences are respected.

References: Care (Jan. 7, 2022) “Understanding the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s: What experts say you need to know” and Tribdem (Jul. 29, 2023) “Dealing with dementia | Planning ahead: ‘Have the conversation’ | News | tribdem.com”

Use Estate Planning to Prepare for Cognitive Decline

Since 2000, the national median age in the U.S. has increased by 3.4 years, with the largest single year gain of 0.3 years in 2021, when the median age reached 38.8 years. This may seem young compared to the life expectancies of older Americans. However, the median age in 1960 was significantly lower, at 29.5 years, according to the article “Don’t Let Cognitive Decline Derail Well-Laid Financial Plans” from Think Advisor.

An aging population brings many challenges to estate planning attorneys, who are mindful of the challenges of aging, both mental, physical and financial. Experienced estate planning attorneys are in the best position to help clients prepare for these challenges by taking concrete steps to protect themselves.

Individuals with cognitive decline become more vulnerable to potentially negative influences at the same time their network of trusted friends and family members begins to shrink. As people become older, they are often more isolated, making them increasingly susceptible to scams. The current scam-rich environment is yet another reason to use estate planning.

When a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia, an estate plan must be put into place as soon as possible, as long as the person is still able express their wishes. A diagnosis can lead to profound distress. However, there is no time to delay.

While typically, the person may state they wish their spouse to be entrusted with everything, this has to be properly documented and is only part of the solution. This is especially the case if the couple is close in age. A secondary and even tertiary agent needs to be made part of the plan for incapacity.

The documents needed to protect the individual and the family are a will, financial power of attorney, durable power of attorney and health care documentation. In addition, for families with more sophisticated finances and legacy goals, trusts and other estate and tax planning strategies are needed.

A common challenge occurs when parents cannot entrust their children to be named as their primary or secondary agents. For example, suppose no immediate family members can be trusted to manage their affairs. In that case, it may be necessary to appoint a family friend or the child of a family friend known to be responsible and trustworthy.

The creation of power of attorney documents by an estate planning attorney is critical. This is because if no one is named, the court will need to step in and name a professional guardian. This person won’t know the person or their family dynamics and may not put their ward’s best interests first, even though they are legally bound to do so. There have been many reports of financial and emotional abuse by court-appointed guardians, so this is something to avoid if possible.

Reference: Think Advisor (April 21, 2023) “Don’t Let Cognitive Decline Derail Well-Laid Financial Plans”

Does Government Have Financial Assistance for Alzheimer’s?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial support to those who’ve worked and paid into the Social Security system and are now unable to work due to a disability, including dementia. To be eligible for SSDI, a person must have enough work history and their condition must meet the SSA’s definition of a disability.

Help! Dementia recent article entitled, “Financial Costs and Planning for Dementia and Alzheimer’s,” explains that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial support to those who have a limited income and assets and are aged, blind, or disabled. People with dementia may be eligible for SSI, if they satisfy the income and asset limits set by the Social Security Administration.

The Area Agency on Aging has information and resources on financial assistance for those suffering from dementia. However, financial assistance can vary depending on the location and the services offered by the agency. Some services that the aging agency may provide include:

  • Information on government benefits, such as Medicaid, may be available to individuals with dementia and their families to help cover the costs of care.
  • Assistance with long-term care planning, like resources on long-term care options, including assisted living facilities and in-home care. They can help individuals with dementia and their families plan for their future care needs.
  • Information on financial assistance programs, such as grants and loans, may be available to individuals with dementia and their families to help cover the costs of care.
  • Life resource planners and elder law lawyers can be helpful to those with dementia and their families who need assistance with financial and legal planning.

Life resource planners are professionals who specialize in helping individuals and families plan for their future, including financial and legal planning. They can provide guidance on government benefits, caregiving and long-term care planning.

Elder law lawyers specialize in legal issues affecting older adults, including government benefits and long-term care planning.

Reference: Help! Dementia (Feb. 12, 2023) “Financial Costs and Planning for Dementia and Alzheimer’s”

Can Fluffy Come to the Nursing Home with Me?

Several studies show the benefits of pets, and senior care communities are increasingly adopting pet-friendly policies.

IAdvance Senior Care’s recent post, “How Senior Care Community Design is Changing to Become More Pet-Friendly,” explains that pets can provide many valuable benefits in senior care settings, particularly because of their effects on mental and physical health. One study found that the presence of dogs was linked to less agitation and fewer behavioral issues for Alzheimer’s patients. In fact, according to News in Health, pets have been shown to help decrease the stress-related hormone, cortisol and lower blood pressure in residents who interact with our furry friends. Studies have also proven that pets can boost mood, reduce loneliness and help seniors feel they have social support.

In addition to health benefits, pets can also provide an important consistency for those who may be moving into a senior care setting. Many people see pets as family members, and a pet-friendly community that permits new arrivals to bring pets with them can avoid a painful separation.

More senior care communities are adopting pet-friendly policies, which can require design changes.

According to Natalie Ruiz, AIA, LEED, AP, NCARB, CDT, associate principal at CallisonRTKL, senior care communities that adopt a more pet-friendly approach see multiple benefits. “For residents, having a pet helps combat loneliness, increases social interaction and gives a sense of purpose,” she explains. “For communities, they see their residents thrive with increased mobility resulting from walking a dog or grooming a cat. There’s also a simple uptick in the job and happiness that comes with the residents having a sense of purpose.”

Ruiz says that in addition to designs and renovations that accommodate residents’ pets, some facilities also benefit from pet therapy programs that introduce community pets for residents to enjoy. In these instances, the facility’s residents still have access to animal companionship but don’t have the time or financial commitments of pet ownership. With the benefits of pets, care communities are increasingly requesting new pet-friendly elements. Ruiz said more and more senior care communities are working to include dog parks with dog washes and pet water fountains. Dog runs are also popular requests.

Ruiz says that while facilities can easily create dog-friendly spaces, they should also give some thought to creating a space for cat lovers. She also suggests that a care center trying to become pet-friendly should designate a pet coordinator who can help the residents with pet care.

Reference:  iAdvance Senior Care (Nov. 30, 2021) “How Senior Care Community Design is Changing to Become More Pet-Friendly”

Will Mediterranean Diet Stave Off Alzheimer’s?

Researchers at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Bonn found the Mediterranean diet could protect the brain from disease triggers linked to Alzheimer’s, specifically protein deposits and the rapid loss of brain matter.

Barchester’s recent article entitled “Mediterranean diet could lower risk of dementia, study suggests” reports that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75% of people who are diagnosed with the condition.

Worldwide, approximately 50 million people have dementia. There are roughly 10 million new cases every year.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.

Dementia is one of the primary causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.

There are physical, psychological, social, and economic impacts on people with dementia, as well as on their careers, families and society at large.

The recent German study results were published in the journal Neurology. The research involved 512 subjects, with an average age of 70 years. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the foods they regularly ate. Those who ate a considerable quantities of fish, vegetables and fruit, and only occasionally consumed foods considered less healthy, such as red meat–were given high scores on a scale used by the researchers.

Participants then underwent MRI brain scans and participated in tests examining cognitive functions, such as memory. The study also looked for levels of amyloid beta proteins and tau proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. These are well-known signs of Alzheimer’s.

The results showed that those with the unhealthiest eating habits had more pathological levels of these biomarkers, when compared with those who regularly ate a Mediterranean diet.

In addition, individuals who regularly ate a significant quantities of fish, fruit and vegetables performed better in memory tests.

The lead author of the study, Tommaso Ballarini, expanding on the findings and explained: “There was also a significant positive correlation between a closer adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet and a higher volume of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is an area of the brain that is considered the control centre of memory. It shrinks early and severely in Alzheimer’s disease.”

The researchers are looking to re-examine the same study participants in four to five years, to have further insights into how nutrition can impact brain aging and health over time.

Reference: Barchester (May 10, 2021) “Mediterranean diet could lower risk of dementia, study suggests”

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