Workshop

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• Interdisciplinary Community-Based Health
  Education
• Project Funded by HRSA Grant 1 D37 HP 00838-01
• Long Island University/Brooklyn Campus
• Prof. Luis F. Riquelme, M.S., CCC-SLP
• Prof. Ellen Greer, M.A., OTR/L, C.PsyA
• Prof. Ellen Godwin, M.S., P.T.
• Prof. Rebecca States, Ph.D.
• Assoc. Dean William M. Susman, Ph.D., P.T.

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• What is Dementia?
• A disease of the brain that causes steady decline
  in memory
• It affects thinking, remembering and reasoning
• Its severe enough to interfere with everyday life

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• Who gets Dementia?
• Anyone can suffer from Dementia.
• Most people with Dementia are older than 65, but
  it can happen to adults in their 30s, 40s or 50s.
• There are different causes Alzheimers Disease,
  Brain Injury, Circulatory/Vascular Problems,
  Parkinsons Disease and Others.

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• Are Dementia and Alzheimers the same thing?
• Alzheimers Disease is a type of Dementia. It is
  the leading cause of Dementia.
• 56 of the Dementias are of the Alzheimers type.

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What is the difference between Alzheimers
Dementia and normal memory changes?

• DEMENTIA
• t Forgets whole
• experiences
• t Rarely remembers later
• t Little by little has
• problems following
• directions
• t Little by little has
• problems caring for self

• NORMAL MEMORY CHANGES
• t Forgets parts of
• experiences
• t Often remembers later
• t Usually able to follow
• directions
• t Usually able to care for
• self

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• The 10 Warning Signs
• 1. Recent memory loss that affects job skills
• 2. Difficulty performing familiar activities
• 3. Problems with understanding/talking (language)
• 4. Disorientation to time and place
• 5. Poor or reduced judgment

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• The 10 Warning Signs
• 6. Problems with abstract thinking
• 7. Misplacing things
• 8. Changes in mood or behavior
• 9. Changes in personality
• 10. Loss of initiative

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• Where should I go for help?
• - Make an appointment with your doctor
• - Talk about the signs and symptoms you are
  noticing and are worried about
• - Your doctor may refer you to a Neurologist for
  more specific testing

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• How is it diagnosed?
• - There no simple test to examine for Dementia.
• - Usually a detailed medical history and physical
  examination are completed
• - Then, a series of neurological tests might be
  recommended over a period of time
• - A definitive diagnosis can only be made with an
  autopsy

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Workshop 1 Understanding Dementia

• Q A
• Questions and Answers