Getting a call that a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia can be difficult and confusing. What does it mean? How will this affect their life? How can I help them? A great way to start is by understanding the diagnosis itself. For starters, did you know dementia isn’t a disease? Dementia is a syndrome, unlike Alzheimer’s which is classified as a disease. A syndrome is when a group of symptoms doesn’t lead to a specific diagnosis. It’s the umbrella term used to describe symptoms that impact memory.
There are also reversible dementia, where negative drug interaction or vitamin deficiency cause the symptoms but can be reversed with the right treatment. A great example of this is dehydration. Dehydration symptoms in seniors can mimic the symptoms of dementia, like confusion. Not only is this easy to reverse with proper hydration, it’s easy to prevent.
Then there are the non-reversible dementia. These are the ones that have the greatest impact. It’s important to know the difference between them, and how they affect each person. Because these dementia all have their own set of symptoms, staying educated about the different types of dementia can help us recognize and treat the symptoms before they get worse.
Currently, Alzheimer’s disease is degenerative and incurable. However, there are new scientific discoveries made frequently about the disease and medical interventions it responds to. The average life expectancy following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is eight to 10 years. However, everyone diagnosis is unique. With recent additions to the National Institutes of Health’s budget for 2019, we can hold out hope that more positive discoveries will be made.
The second most common dementia is vascular dementia. Symptoms occur from blood vessel blockage or damage, leading to strokes or bleeding in the brain. These symptoms can occur suddenly and include impaired judgment, difficulty concentrating, and problems with planning, organizing or making decisions.
Lewy body Dementia is a progressive brain disorder in which abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein build up in areas of the brain that regulate behavior, cognition, and movement. These deposits interrupt chemical messages in the brain and cause memory loss and disorientation. LBD also affects body functions such as blood pressure control, temperature regulation, and bladder and bowel functions. As it progresses, people diagnosed with LBD can experience visual hallucinations or act out their dreams.
Mixed dementia combines two or more disorders, one being dementia, with the most common combination being Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. The Jersey Alzheimer’s Association reported that up to 45 percent of people with dementia have signs of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Frontotemporal dementia was once known as Pick’s disease, several disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia depend on the areas of the brain affected: behavioral or language. Behavioral symptoms like inappropriate actions, lack of inhibition, neglect of personal hygiene and compulsive behavior are most common. Language related symptoms include difficulty speaking or understanding, language recall problems, and difficulty with social interactions.
Most commonly caused by alcohol abuse, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1). This deficiency causes bleeding in the lower section of the brain, affecting muscle control, the ability to remember things, and trouble learning and processing information. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome’s not technically a type of dementia but has been categorized with other dementia because of shared symptoms.
While Parkinson’s disease isn’t a form of dementia, nearly 1 in 5 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s will develop dementia. Look for early warning signs like difficulty understanding visual information or remembering how to do simple daily tasks. As the disease advances, an individual with Parkinson’s could become more depressed, paranoid, or have trouble speaking or recalling words during conversation.
Like people living with Parkinson’s disease, individuals with Huntington’s disease often develop dementia. A defective gene causes brain cells to break down prematurely, which causes dementia symptoms including difficulty thinking, focusing and reasoning, or learning new things. Movement can also become impaired, making essential activities like walking, talking and swallowing challenging.
One of the rarest forms of dementia, Creutzefeldt-Jakob Disease, occurs in only one in 1 million people each year. The brain is infected by an abnormally shaped protein called a prion. While the symptoms mimic those of other types of dementia (confusion, memory loss, agitation, depression) those diagnosed with the disease also experience muscle stiffness and twitching. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease progresses rapidly.
Aegis Living’s nationally recognized memory care program Life’s NeighborhoodTM, improves the quality of life and increases enjoyment for people living with memory loss. If you are interested in learning more about this program, contact your nearest Aegis Livingcommunity.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.