Ask the Expert
Frequently Asked Questions About Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
What's the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?
Dementia is not a disease, but a group of symptoms characterized by the loss of cognitive functioning (such as memory, reasoning, abstract thinking) to the point that someone has difficulty performing every day activities (driving, adding numbers, eating).
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, followed by Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Vascular or Multi-Infarct Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia.
As the symptoms of dementia can be caused by many conditions, and even be the result of medication side effects, anyone exhibiting or complaining of changes in memory or other cognitive abilities should receive a thorough evaluation.
How do I find out whether or not memory loss and other cognitive difficulties are due to Alzheimer's disease?
It takes a through diagnostic workup to determine if memory loss is due to Alzheimer's disease, another condition, or potentially reversible cause (e.g., severe depression, medication side effects). No one should be told that "there's nothing to worry about" based on a screening with a handful of questions. While memory loss is all too often dismissed as "a normal part of aging," it should be taken seriously.
Our staff can refer you to a medical professional who can conduct a thorough dementia evaluation.
Are there any medications for Alzheimer's disease?
Four FDA-approved medications are available to treat Alzheimer's disease. It is important for families to have realistic expectations about their usage. While these medications can help improve quality of life for people with Alzheimer's they are not a cure. Combining these medications with other treatments for the individual (e.g., adult day services) and caregiver (e.g., support group education) remains the most effective approach to managing Alzheimer's disease.
Medications designed to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease include donepezil (Aricept®), galantamine, which comes in regular release (Reminy®l) and extended release (Razadyne ER®) forms, and rivastigmine (Exelon®). All three medications accentuate the levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in communication between neurons or brain cells. Known as aceytlcholinesterase inhibitors, these three medications are most beneficial when started early and can have a positive impact on cognitive abilities, everyday living skills and behavioral symptoms. While gastrointestinal side effects (e.g., nausea, diarrhea) are common, most individuals quickly adapt to the medication.
Aricept has now also been approved by the FDA for use in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, as benefits continue to be seen even after years of treatment. Memantine (Namenda®), approved in 2003, is the first drug specifically designed for the treatment of advanced dementia. Namenda regulates glutamate, another neurotransmitter important in learning and memory. In persons with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, Namenda has been shown to reduce decline in cognitive abilities and everyday living skills.
As Namenda® has a different mechanism of action than the three acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, combining Namenda with one of the three can maximize benefits.
Please contact our Education Department for the latest workshops on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
About Our Services
Do you have to have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or another dementia in order to attend the center?
Enrollment in Day Services does require completion of a Health Record by the individual's primary care physician, who is asked to provide current medical diagnoses along with other key health information. In most cases, the physician or a specialist has already made a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia prior to a family calling the center for help.
Sometimes, however, a family seeks help at the center because a loved one is experiencing memory loss, but the individual has not yet received a diagnosis. If Alzheimer's disease or another dementia suspected, the individual may enroll, and a care manager will help facilitate the diagnosis.
Individuals who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia are referred for care and services to meet their specific needs.
What are your fees? Are they covered by insurance?
The daily fee to attend the center is $90, with scholarship assistance available, so that all families in need can access care.
Fees are covered by MediCal and some long-term care insurance companies. Medicare and managed care do not cover adult day health services.
Do not let financial concerns stand in the way of calling the center for help. A care manager will work with you to develop a plan to cover the cost of services.
All other services, including information and referral, limited care management, support groups, and educational workshops are provided at no cost.
My loved one refuses to attend a day center. What can I do?
It's common for a person with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia to refuse trying anything new, given fear of embarrassment. When you call, a care manager will help identify and implement strategies to ease the transition into adult day services. You will receive coaching from your care manager on introducing day services to your loved one, and the three of you will work together to make the first day and every day thereafter at the center a success!
Do you provide meals?
Participants receive a nutritious breakfast, lunch and a late afternoon snack. All meals are prepared on site to ensure high quality.
Do you offer half-days or drop-in services?
Our center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Participants may arrive as late as 10 a.m. and leave as early as 2:30 p.m., but are not allowed to "drop-in" or attend partial days.
Maintaining a consistent routine is a critical component of dementia care and facilitates adjustment to the center.
Do you provide transportation?
Our center will arrange transportation to and from the center, with the cost covered as part of the daily fee. Transportation is available with the center's primary service area - Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, an and Costa Mesa - as well as many other areas of Orange County. Your care manager will work with you to resolve your transportation needs.
My loved one wanders. Will he/she be safe?
Yes, we provide a safe and homelike environment for all participants. Our center has a secured (i.e. locked) perimeter, 1:5 staff-to-participant ratio, emergency alert system, and extensive safety procedures to ensure that all participants, including those with difficult-to-manage behaviors, remain safe. Staff are always present in our courtyard, as well as throughout the facility, to supervise participants.
My loved one can get very anxious and even aggressive sometimes. Would he/she be able to attend the center?
As experts in dementia care, our staff knows how to work with individuals who exhibit challenging behaviors. A care manager will assess your loved one's behaviors and, together with our nurses and other healthcare professionals, will develop a plan - that typically includes a combination of behavioral strategies and medications - to reduce and manage the behaviors at the center and at home.
We understand that dementia-related behaviors have multiple causes, and in some cases can even be greatly reduced or eliminated by treating underlying medical conditions, such as an infection, or adjusting medications.
Given our knowledge and expertise with Alzheimer's, staff report that individuals who have difficulty at other adult day centers frequently adjust and do well at our state-of-the-art facility.