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49 Dementia is a scary word. That word gets even scarier when you Senior husband wife imagehear the news that your spouse is diagnosed with dementia. However, there are ways to cope with the diagnosis and help yourself and your spouse through this difficult time. It takes some adjustments to both of your lives but providing the proper care and dealing with the news is crucial. Luckily, neither of you are alone. What Is Dementia? The first thing you need to do is learn exactly what dementia is. It's best to read up on it and ask your doctor plenty of questions to make sure you understand completely. According to the Alzheimer's Association, it's important to clarify that dementia describes a range of symptoms rather than a specific diagnosis. Particularly, these symptoms affect your spouse's memory and thinking. Dementia is a diagnosis usually pulled in when these symptoms make it hard for a person to complete their daily routine and activities on their own. If you see that your spouse is showing signs of dementia, it's imperative that you schedule a doctor's appointment as soon as you can. This is a condition that usually is progressive, so if it is left alone, it will only get worse. What Are the Treatment Plans? When your spouse is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, their doctor should give you an idea of what to do and what to expect. The unfortunate news is that for many types of progressive dementia (such as Alzheimer's Disease), there is no cure right now. There are some medications that are used to treat the condition by helping to improve some symptoms on a temporary basis. Accept Change The first thing that you need to do when you hear the diagnosis is to reflect on what it means. When a spouse has trouble thinking and remembering like they used to, you are likely to see changes in their personality. This has led many people reacting that they feel like their married to someone they don't know as well as they once did. Caring for a Spouse with Dementia continued on page 50