It is never easy for someone to receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other type of dementia. In fact, research has shown that older adults are more afraid about dementia than they are afraid of cancer.  It is normal for those who are diagnosed with dementia to experience a number of emotions, including fear about the future, anger, depression and denial. If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with a form of dementia and is having a hard time coping with their diagnosis, there are things that family and friends can do to help them in these early stages of their condition. 

When I'm working in the community, one of the most common questions I get from caregivers is, "What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia?" The truth is, they are the same thing, though the answer is a little more complicated than that. 

Dementia is a syndrome, which is a medical term for a group of symptoms that a person has at the same time. People with dementia often have multiple symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. Alzheimer's is a disease that causes many of the symptoms we see in people with dementia. However, Alzheimer's disease is only one condition that causes dementia symptoms.