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I AM NOT A LOVED ONE, and I'm not alone
I'd really like to see a change in the terminology. At 74 with a new diagnosis and dementia, without any family or friends left and still driving, I find it difficult to get information on how to manage on my own, make plans. But the hardest immediate barrier is that all the materials seem to be for caregivers and address patients as the loved one. I am not anyone's loved one and initially it's hurts to have to explain that to people, especially medical professionals.
I'd be interested in how others have addressed this. I don't have the energy to be educating people. I'm angry, sad, grieving at this devastating diagnosis. But these are not symptoms of dementia, these are human reactions to a horrible diagnosis.
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@merrychristmas do you have a form of dementia? Have they said you may have FTD?
According to Mayo Clinic, Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Currently, I have a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment because I’m able to be totally independent. MCI is the first tiny step before a dementia diagnosis. It is not the result of dementia.
But, When the time comes, and I need help bathing, dressing etc I will be classified as having a form of dementia.
There are many forms of dementia depending on which part of the brain is not working correctly.
Some of them are, Alzheimer’s Dementia, Lewy-Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia.
Dementia is the result of brain damage. It affects many areas of a person’s life including behavior, and everything a person needs to do to survive like eat.
No I don’t have dementia.
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