Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

What is Dementia?

Understand the characteristics behind the diagnosis.

  • Dementia is classified as a psychotic organic disorder, says Judy Adams, RN, BSN, HCS-D, HCS-O, with Adams Home Care Consulting in Asheville, N.C.
  • Dementia develops when the parts of the brain involved with learning, memory, decision-making, and language are affected.
  • Dementia is characterized by:

Loss of mental function with multiple cognitive deficits, including memory loss.
Persistence. Dementia isn’t curable although symptoms may be treatable.