Navigating Dementia Blog Series
When the word dementia enters a conversation, it often comes with a pause — a quiet acknowledgment that many have been touched by its reality. With more than 57 million people worldwide living with some form of dementia, according to the World Health Organization, and over 11 million US adults acting as unpaid caregivers to them, chances are you, too, know someone navigating its challenges. Maybe it’s a parent who’s starting to forget familiar details or a spouse whose once-sharp reasoning now feels distant.
Kiersten Parsons, Regional Director of Community Partnerships at Ingleside, is working with experts in the field of aging to bring their experience and knowledge to you directly through a series of webinars in 2026. Kiersten shared with us that “it is my goal in this series to supply the familial caregiver, the individual diagnosed, and the professionals working in this field with the type of virtual training, valuable information, and partnership that supports them in their experience so that they might feel informed, understood, and even able to make connections with other caregivers virtually!”
Our Navigating Dementia series is here to help you understand what’s happening, recognize early signs, and feel supported with information, resources, and encouragement as you navigate the journey ahead.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is a broad term that describes changes in the brain affecting memory, reasoning, communication, and daily life. It isn’t a single disease, but rather a group of symptoms caused by different conditions — such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, or frontotemporal dementia.
While there is no cure, there are many ways to improve quality of life, foster connection, and slow progression through personalized care, targeted therapies, and thoughtful daily routines. Approaches like music and art therapy, guided movement, and recreational activities have been shown to spark recognition, enhance communication, and create moments of joy. You can explore more about supportive care options for dementia in our resource library.
Defining Dementia vs. Normal Aging
In the early stages, it can be hard to tell whether memory loss is simply part of normal aging or a sign of something more. A key factor in identifying dementia is that the symptoms impact a person’s daily life repeatedly and continue to persist and progress, unlike age-related memory changes.
For example:
- Typical aging: Occasionally forgetting a word but remembering it later.
- Dementia: Struggling to follow or join a conversation, even after a prompt.
Early Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Dementia affects everyone differently, but some early indicators are common. In addition to memory decline, symptoms can include language difficulties, mood changes, impaired judgment, and challenges with visual-spatial abilities.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are three early signs to watch for if you suspect a loved one is struggling with a form of dementia.
- Challenges in planning or solving problems: Example – Difficulty following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks: Example – Trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships: Example – Issues with balance, difficulty reading, or problems judging distance and contrast, which can make driving unsafe.
What to Do If You Suspect a Loved One Has Dementia
If you’re starting to notice these early signs in a loved one, there’s no perfect script to follow — but there are practical steps that can help.
- Lead with compassion and empathy: Your loved one may be feeling frustrated or even in denial.
- Schedule a professional assessment: A cognitive test provides clarity and helps guide next steps.
- Set practical goals: Understand that routines, plans, and expectations may need to adapt over time.
- Plan early: Begin addressing legal, financial, and care needs while your loved one can participate in the decision-making process.
Types of Dementia Common in Seniors
Understanding the different forms of dementia can help families better navigate care options and expectations.
- Alzheimer’s disease: The most common cause of dementia, triggered by the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. Over time, brain cells die and the brain shrinks, leading to progressive memory and cognitive decline.
- Vascular dementia: Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often leading to problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, and memory.
- Lewy body dementia (LBD): The second most common type. Protein deposits called Lewy bodies develop in nerve cells, affecting memory, thinking, and movement. There are two primary forms: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia.
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD): A group of disorders primarily affecting the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes — regions responsible for personality, behavior, and language.
To learn more about each of these, consider attending our Dementia 101 Virtual Event with Jihann Starr on December 15.
How Ingleside Supports Dementia Care
Navigating dementia is a deeply personal journey—and no one should have to face it alone. At Ingleside, our focus is on creating environments that help residents and their families feel supported, informed, and connected at every stage of dementia care.
The Ingleside Approach
- Early support programs for those experiencing initial cognitive changes, often while continuing to live independently.
- Residential memory support neighborhoods for individuals in moderate stages, offering safety, structure, and opportunities for meaningful engagement.
- Skilled nursing and long-term care options for advanced stages, with personalized plans that prioritize dignity and quality of life.
Through educational resources, therapeutic programs, and a compassionate, individualized approach, Ingleside empowers families to make informed choices and helps residents find connection and fulfillment in their daily lives.