Vascular dementia is a condition in which insufficient blood flow to the brain causes cognitive issues such as memory, judgment, and reasoning impairment. While these changes can be brought on quickly after a stroke, they may also appear gradually. Luckily, the right dementia care can provide symptom management and improve the quality of life of seniors affected by this condition. If you have a loved one who was diagnosed with this, here’s more information about it.

A Beginner’s Guide to Vascular Dementia

What Are its Symptoms & Causes?

A stroke can bring the sudden onset of vascular dementia, but it’s also possible for small, silent strokes that don’t produce any outward symptoms to increase the risk of dementia. Conditions that narrow the blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and general aging, can also impede blood flow to the brain and lead to vascular dementia.

People who have this condition may exhibit confusion, difficulty focusing, loss of analytical skills, and memory lapses. They may also become restless, agitated, and depressed. In terms of physical symptoms, issues such as unsteady gait and inability to control urination may also occur. Symptoms can range in severity from mild to severe and may worsen over time.

How Is It Managed?

Treatment for vascular dementia may vary depending on the underlying cause of the condition. For example, controlling blood pressure may help prevent symptoms from worsening.

Some patients may also benefit from exploring drug-based dementia care options, including those used to treat Alzheimer’s. Staff at an assisted living facility will help seniors stay on top of their medications for the best results. 

Tactics such as art and music therapies, lifestyle modifications like exercising, and vitamin regimens may provide benefits for mobility, cognition, and memory loss. Encourage your loved one to participate in these activities, which may help them make new friends and fight symptoms like depression. 

If you have a family member who was recently diagnosed with any form of dementia, BeeHive Homes of Columbia Falls will help. Located in Flathead County, MT, this assisted living facility offers individualized care programs and comprehensive dementia care for its residents, including regular doctor visits. This comfortable, family-owned facility helps residents feel right at home in an intimate, inviting setting. Browse through their services online or schedule a tour by calling (406) 219-7907.