Posted on August 23, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE OR VASCULAR DEMENTIA? MAYBE IT REALLY IS BOTH – THE MIXED DEMENTIA

(PART II)

When the elder is showing signs of an increase in their confusion it is time to have a baseline cognitive assessment. There are many types of cognitive assessment as well as many different healthcare practitioners who give them. From psychologists and neuropsychologists, to speech therapists many professionals conduct this testing. The testing will include:

• History – what was normal for the elder as far as their intellectual functioning?
• How are they functioning now intellectually?
• Attention span will be tested as well as concentration.
• Short-term memory
• Long-term memory
• The ability to recognize things
• The ability to recall – maybe a list of unrelated items.

The family or caregiver will be asked the level of self-care abilities. Are there changes in hygiene, socially appropriate behaviors, dressing inappropriately for season, weather or wearing the same clothes all the time.

What is really important in the testing is the elder’s self-reporting of problems they are having. This includes how they feel about the losses they are reporting. Testing should always be done if possible when the elder is not taking any form of antipsychotic medication to mask any symptoms.

While losses due to Vascular Dementia are the same for the elderly as losses due to Alzheimer’s disease, becoming familiar with the stages of Alzheimer’s disease can be very helpful.  By the caregiver knowing the stages of Alzheimer’s disease, they can better identify whether the cognitive losses are following a pattern or are more random.

Virginia Garberding, R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com