Has a Senior with Aphasia Suffered an Intellectual Decline?

By Andy Niska | June 2, 2017 |

Elderly Care in Spokane WA: Has a Senior with Aphasia Suffered an Intellectual Decline?

In your role as a family caregiver, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the issues that your loved one is facing. You might struggle to understand what they are going through and are worried about how that is impacting them now and into the future. While it is good for you to be proactive in trying to figure out what they are going through so that you can make the decisions about their ongoing care and management that is right for them, it is important that you do not make assumptions or allow yourself to jump to conclusions that might negatively impact their ability to receive this care or to live the highest quality of life possible as they age in place.

One example of this is the issue of aphasia. This language disorder is caused by damage to the brain that results in challenges to communication. More than 2 million people throughout the United States are currently living with this condition, which is more than Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and many other better-known conditions. One of the negative effects of not many people knowing about aphasia is that there are misconceptions about it that can negatively impact a caregiver’s perception of their senior and the type of care that they give them.

One of the most common misconceptions about aphasia is that it is an indicator of intellectual ability. Because elderly adults who are facing this condition have trouble with their spoken communication, such as not being able to put together a sentence effectively or replacing words with nonsense sounds, or their written communication, such as not being able to interpret written materials or having trouble with number concepts, many caregivers think that this is a sign of cognitive decline. This, however, is not the case. Aphasia is caused by damage to the brain. The most common cause is stroke, with between 25 and 40 percent of stroke survivors experiencing this condition. Though it can exist in conjunction with other issues, including dementia, its presence does not indicate that your loved one is suffering from diminished intellectual ability, cognitive functioning decline, or mental illness.

Starting elderly care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your senior on a customized schedule that ensures that no matter the type of care that is right for them, they will get what they need when they need it. This ensures that they are able to receive all of the care, support, and assistance that is right for them while also keeping you at the forefront of their care routine. There is a misconception that elderly care is only appropriate for those seniors who are very “old” or who have extensive needs. This is not the case. Instead, even seniors who are dealing with mild to moderate needs can also gain tremendous benefits from this type of highly personalized care, helping the to manage their needs, take care of their activities of daily living, and maintain a more active, engaged, and fulfilling quality of life as they age in place.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Spokane, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

Source: https://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-resources/aphasia-statistics/

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.