Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
[My patient has dementia, but so far, it is not that bad...]
1Service de gériatrie ambulatoire du CHUQ-CHUL, Québec.
Abstract:
Depression can be the first sign of dementia or can occur in the follow-up of a clearly demented patient. One must be able to distinguish symptoms of depression and dementia, and recognize depression superimposed on dementia in order to provide optimal treatment. Suicidal risk must be assessed, and major depressive episodes must be appropriately treated. Useful drugs to treat depression in demented patients are reviewed. At this stage of the dementing illness, the patient still needs medical attention for other medical problems, periodic health exams, other chronic conditions, etc. It is also important to address the issues of CPR and level of care, if it has not been done previously. Legal aspects must also be clarified at this stage. The patient's ability to consent or to make financial decisions must be assessed. Some objective criteria are suggested. At this stage of the disease, the family physician can really make the difference between a premature nursing home placement and a patient staying at home with his family.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Huntington Disease l: Introduction
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Amnesia
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment