Dementia describes a collection of symptoms brought upon by disorders affecting the brain, where various types and stages of dementia can affect you differently. While dementia is not currently curable, staying in a community for assisted living and memory care in Pine Oak Heights, VA can help you manage the symptoms through specialized activities that prevent memory impairment.

Different Types of Dementia

There are five common types of dementia, grouped by how they affect the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is when patients have protein plaques and tangles in the brain that affect memory through clumping and damaging of the neurons.

Vascular dementia is caused by damage to the blood vessels connected to the brain that can damage fibers in the white matter of the brain. Vascular dementia’s common symptoms include difficulties in problem-solving, slower thinking and loss of focus.

Lewy body dementia is another common type of progressive dementia. Lewy bodies are balloon-like protein clumps that affect chemicals in the brain, causing problems with thinking and movement.

Frontotemporal dementia is characterized by the breakdown of nerve cell connections in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These lobes are associated with personality and speech, hence this type of dementia manifests in mood and behavioral changes and communication difficulties.

How Assisted Living Communities Provide Care

Although there has yet to be a cure for dementia, there are some methods you can adopt to slow down its process and ease its symptoms. Living in a memory care community is one such method since you will be in an environment with specially trained professionals who understand memory impairment and the availability of amenities to handle it.

Our Memory Care program harnesses the power of science-based techniques to customize each resident’s daily routines with activities that interest them. These include memory activities that train your motor skills through audiovisual stimulation and purpose-driven group activities that foster mental and spiritual engagement. Physical and social activity are simple ways that can delay the progression of dementia.

Maintaining a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins and flavonoids improves cognitive functioning and reduces memory impairment. Our Sensations Dining chefs work with nutritionists to design three-course menus tailored to your dietary requirements and goals. We focus on utilizing the freshest ingredients for all our meals to maximize the nutrition you receive. Our dining halls are also dementia-friendly, equipped with auditory and sensory cues to enhance appetite.

Lastly, high-quality sleep can give you more energy during the day, helping you feel more coordinated and less confused. A clean room contributes to good sleep hygiene, hence it plays an integral role in ensuring you have a good night’s rest. In our community, maintaining home cleanliness on your own is something you will no longer have to worry about. Our Impressions Housekeeping and Maintenance team takes care of all your household chores, such as floor cleaning, dishwashing and laundry services.