Helping Seniors with Lewy Body Dementia in Bethesda, MD
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a brain disease that can impair a senior’s thinking and mobility. It’s one of the most common types of dementia and affects more than one million people in the United States. LBD is unfamiliar to many people and often misdiagnosed in its early stages.
If living with LBD has become too overwhelming, Visiting Angels of Bethesda can help with in-home dementia care.
What Can Cause Lewy Body Dementia?
LBD is caused by the buildup of abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies in regions of the brain that are responsible for thinking, memory, and movement. When Lewy bodies accumulate in these regions, they damage brain cells and interfere with normal brain function.
What are the Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia?
Although severity varies among individuals, some of the most common symptoms are:
- Sleep issues
- Pronounced memory loss
- Changes in thinking and reasoning
- Confusion, poor attention span and visual/spatial difficulty
- Recurring hallucinations
- Depression, apathy and other mood disorders
- Movement disorders, such as slowness, stiffness and gait changes
- Problems regulating automatic body functions such as pulse and digestion
What are Risk Factors for Lewy Body Dementia?
While few risk factors have been identified, the following may increase the risk of developing LBD:
- Age: Individuals older than age 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with LBD
- Gender: Men are at a higher risk than women of getting LBD
- Family History: Seniors who have family members who have been diagnosed with LBS will be more likely to develop LBD, as well
How is Lewy Body Dementia Diagnosed?
LBD is often confused with Alzheimer’s disease because of common symptoms. To determine if symptoms are caused by LBD, a thorough medical evaluation is done, which includes: a physical exam, diagnostic tests, blood tests and a brain scan.
How is Lewy Body Dementia Treated?
LBD is a progressive disease and symptoms will eventually worsen. Although LBD is not curable, some non-surgical treatments and therapies can help control and manage symptoms.
A comprehensive treatment plan for LBD may involve:
- Medications for cognitive and physical symptoms
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Individual and family counseling
- Support groups
Doctors may recommend a non-drug approach because certain medications have side effects that could worsen symptoms. Treatments are more effective the earlier LBD is recognized. If you are concerned your loved one may have LBD, make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
How Dementia Care from Visiting Angels of Bethesda Can Help
As the effects of LBD continue to progress, family caregivers may become overwhelmed by the burden of caring for their loved one. Visiting Angels of Bethesda can fill the gaps and support individuals and their families in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties with personalized, one-on-one dementia care.
Dementia care services from Visiting Angels of Bethesda include:
- Monitoring and companionship
- Wandering prevention
- Managing moments of confusion, anxiety and anger
- Accompaniment and transportation to appointments
- Medication reminders and prescription pickups
- Laundry and light housekeeping
- Grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation
- Help with dressing, bathing and grooming
- Mobility and transfer assistance
If you’d like to learn how Visiting Angels of Bethesda supports seniors who are living with Lewy body dementia, call us at 301-490-9050.