Manage your AIA plans, employee benefits, stay healthy with AIA Vitality, and access healthcare services.
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{{label}}17 October 2017
It can be normal to notice your older relatives begin to behave strangely. Misplaced keys, losing track of conversations, forgetting names of close family members and forgetfulness is usually waved off as harmless signs of old age. In reality, they could also indicate the early stages of some of the most common diseases to affect senior citizens: dementia, Alzheimer�s disease and Parkinson�s disease. All three diseases affect brain function, and there are currently no available cures.
You may think of dementia as a specific illness, but it�s a range of diseases that impair memory and thought processes due to nerve damage in the brain. Symptoms are different depending on which parts of the brain are affected. Some common signs to look out for are:
Parkinson�s disease develops when certain nerve cells in the brain die and fail to produce the chemical dopamine. This results in irregular brain functions which affects the individual physically. You are most at risk for Parkinson�s if you are male, over 60 and have a family history of the ailment.
Alzheimer�s is, in fact, the most common cause of dementia. It involves the destruction of brain cells which lead to loss of memory and other related functions.
It is currently not possible to cure or reverse the growth of these diseases. As a result, most treatments focus on drugs which help to stabilise symptoms related to memory loss, reasoning and learning.
Aside from medical treatment and therapy, patients will likely spend most of their time at home or in care centres. Over time, these illnesses will rob the patient of the ability to do many things on their own. Remember to always treat those afflicted with the disease with dignity and patience. Try to allow them to be as independent as possible while supporting their needs.
Day Care Centres
Doctors from the BFM Health and Living by AIA Vitality event explained how these patients could feel even if they cannot remember details. A caregiver�s most important roles are to look after both the sick individual and themselves. It can be overwhelming to juggle work, family and the daily routine of caring for a patient. As a result, many caregivers are prone to burnout, fatigue and health problems of their own. Here are some ways a caregiver can keep themselves in good condition.
- Take initiative
References
AIA Vitality is a unique insurance and health programme that actively supports and rewards you for making healthier choices every day so you can live a healthier, longer and better life.
