Dementia Hospital & Treatment Center near Seattle

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a stand-alone disease, rather it’s a general term that’s used to describe a wide array of symptoms associated with a decline in thinking skills and memory that are severe enough to reduce the ability of a man or woman to perform normal activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s disease represents between 60 and 80 percent of all cases of dementia, while vascular dementia – which occurs following a stroke – is the second most common type of dementia. There are up to fifty other diseases, injuries, and disabilities that can lead to symptoms of dementia, some of them, such as thyroid disease, are reversible. Often incorrectly referred to as senility or senile dementia, this reflects the erroneous belief that dementia is part of the aging process. We now understand that while the biggest risk factor for dementia is age, dementia is not a normal part of aging. The disease process for many types of dementia causes many nerve cells to stop functioning, lose connections with other neurons, and eventually die. By contrast, normal aging processes do not result in the loss of large numbers of neurons in the brain.

People who have dementia often have problems with their short-term memory and may lose the ability to carry out even the simplest daily tasks such as paying bills or keeping track of important items such as car keys. Many types of dementia worsen over time, so it’s vital that anyone experiencing such symptoms be evaluated and treated by a medical physician to ensure safety and proper treatment. Early treatment can detect a reversible form of dementia and allows men and women who have dementia to attain greatest benefits from treatments and allow for the participation in clinical trials or studies as well as plan for the future.

Why consider treatment for dementia at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital

Living with untreated or unmanaged dementia can make life extraordinarily challenging. You may find that you’re unable to remember people and places the way you once could. You may start to lose your ability to communicate and find the right word for what you mean. You may begin to isolate yourself from others to prevent them from discovering how your memory has worsened. You may have trouble performing basic tasks, such as cooking and cleaning. You may feel terrified and alone, unsure of what’s happening to you.

At Cascade Behavioral Health, our dedicated staff has helped many men and women just like you learn to manage the symptoms of their dementia. Our safe environment allows for the peace of mind you need to fully engage in your treatment and begin to work through your symptoms. We’re ready to help you relearn things you’ve forgotten and reconnect you with those who love you most so that you can return to a life filled with happiness and joy.

Treatment philosophy and benefits

As one of the best treatment centers near Seattle for dementia, you’ll find that we’ve employed the leading healthcare experts and designed a state-of-the-art treatment center that offers the latest in medical technologies. More importantly, we offer those who come to us for help genuine compassion and understanding, a staff that will take the time to listen to you and your loved ones, and always treat you like the unique person you are. You, the patient, are always first. You’ll easily see our commitment to patient-focused care in the welcoming, home-like spaces we’ve created. You’ll see our commitment to best heal you in our innovative programs to help educate, comfort, and empower you throughout your stay with us. Most importantly, you’ll see it in the way we treat you and those you love most – with kindness, caring, and respect. At Cascade Behavioral Health, we’re focused on treating more than the symptoms of your dementia; we’re ready to treat the whole you – mind, body, and spirit.

Treatment approaches for dementia at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital

When you come to us for help, you’ll first undergo a series of medical and psychological evaluations to allow us the opportunity to learn more about you. Our medical examination will work to evaluate and diagnose any medical conditions from which you may be suffering and begin to treat these problems throughout your stay. Our psychological evaluation will allow us to determine if you’re struggling with other, co-occurring mental disorders that need our attention as well. From these evaluations, we’ll be able to work with you to create a treatment plan that meets all of your needs – mind, body, and soul.

Depending upon which type of dementia you may be diagnosed with, you may be placed on medications to help ease some of the symptoms. Others may require medications to treat additional medical problems. If it has been determined by your treatment team that you require medication management, we will monitor you for effectiveness and ensure that you are not struggling with unmanageable side effects.

Individual therapy at our treatment center is helpful for people who have dementia to be able to discuss their frustrations. Dementia can be a tremendously exhausting condition and people who struggle with this disorder may need one-on-one time with a therapist to explore their emotions and work on ways of managing daily tasks.

Family therapy is a very important component for individuals and their loved ones during dementia treatment and recovery. Through family sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to teach your loved ones more about your disorder, your recovery, and ways that your loved ones can continue to support you during this challenging time. Your loved ones will also have the opportunity to discuss their feelings about your disorder, have our staff help you plan for the future, and determine the next steps for treatment.

In addition to traditional therapeutic modalities, we believe that including experiential therapies into your care plan for your stay with us is very important. We offer a number of alternative therapies to assist in your recovery during your stay with us. These include:

• Acupuncture
• Meditation
• Spiritual therapy
• Exercise programs
• Reminiscent therapy

Continuing care – what comes next?

As your time for discharge approaches, you and your loved ones will work closely with your treatment team to determine the next best steps in your care. Some individuals will transition to a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) which provide similar structure to our inpatient program but allow you to return home in the evenings. Others may opt for a more structured residential program to ensure their continued safety. Still others may return home with referrals to traditional outpatient therapy and connections to available community resources. We’ll work tirelessly to ensure that your next steps are as seamless a transition as possible.

Serving the Greater Seattle Area

Our location in Tukwila near Seattle allows for us to serve residents from all over SeaTac region including Renton, Burien, and Des Moines. Call us today to begin the process of treatment for dementia.