Carers Guide to Dementia

    Carers Guide to Dementia 

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 Facts & Figures 

Dementia is a disease of the brain which is progressive and degenerative in nature.  It is characterised by alterations in reasoning, memory, comprehension, problem-solving, or attention.  It is a disease which is seen more in older people but is not a part of the normal ageing process . 750,000 people are living with dimentia in the UK at present.  This figure is expected to double over the next 30 years. 25% of hospital bed are occupied by an individual over the age of 65 with dementia . 

 

 This resource will help you to: 

• Recall the different stages of dementia and recognise where your loved one is within this model.
• Differentiate between the ‘normal’ aging process and the typical signs and symptoms of dementia.
• Recognize other conditions that may co-exist alongside dementia.
• Identify strategies and techniques that enable you to help your loved one in optimizing their independence and quality of life.
• Identify dementia services and resources that would be appropriate for different stages of dementia.
• Relate the information in this resource to their individual circumstances.
  

 Recognition 

How to recognise early dementia

It is understandable to find yourself concerned about the possibiliy of dementia as a loved one ages. However, there are some aspects of the usual aging process that may be confused for signs of dementia. Table 1 below sets out some of the early signs of dementia and compares them to normal aging.

It is worth noting that half of all cases of dementia are thought to be due to Alzheimers disease while one tenth are due to stroke. In some cases it may be due to another disease (e.g. Huntington's) or from a head injury.

Mild Cognitive Impairment is the term used to describe people who experience some memory problems but do not actually have dementia.

People with dementia may suffer from depression and/or behavioural problems. They may often become annoyed easily or act aggressively towards a family member or friend.
 

Types of Dementia

There are many types of dementia. Although this site cannot provide a full description of each n you can follow the link below for more details.

•Dementia with Alzheimers disease: the most common form of dementia. Loss of nerve tissue along with changes in the chemistry and structure of the brain lead to the death of brain cells.
•Vascular dementia: most common after a stroke or a series of small strokes. The blood supply and therefore oxygen supply to the brain is compromised and brain cells die. The person may start forget or have trouble planning ahead. This can occur alongside balance problems.
•Dementia with Lewy Bodies: caused by the degneration of brain tissue following the formation of tiny spherical structures in nerve cells. They will move more slowly and often fall more often.
•Korsakoff's Syndrome: not strictly speaking a dementia. Heavy drinking over a long period leads to brain cell death and memory is often affected.
•Fronto-temporal dementia: as damage is focused in the front part of the brain personality and behaviour may be more affected than memory in the early stages.
•Creutzfeldt-Jakobs Disease: infectious agents (prions) attack the central nervous system and go on to cause brain cell death.
•HIV related cognitive impairment: some people with HIV and AIDS may experience cognitive impairment late on in their disease.
•Rarer Types of Dementia: people with motor neurone disease; multiple sclerosis; Huntington's Disease; and Parkinson's Disease may be at inceased risk of developing dementia.
•Mixed Dementia: i.e. Alzheimers and vascular dementia. The person may present with  a mixture of symptoms.

For more informtaion and fact sheets on the different types of dementia visit this site: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200362

 What to expect 

 

It can be a difficult time when a loved one is suffering memory problems or diagnosed with dementia. This page will provide a guide to the different stages of dementia and what you may experience caring for someone in each stage.

The three stages of dementia

 File:Three Main Stage of Dementia.pdf
In those aged over 65 it is thought that 1 in 3 women will fall while 1 in 5 men will fall. This risk is elevated even more if the person is also suffering from Dementia. (O'Loughlin et al 1993). As dementia is a non-modifiable risk it is important that the fear of falling does not lead to a cycle of inactivity. If this occurs it is important to break the vicious cycle of inactivity by improving things such as the person's mobility, independence and ultimately confidence. The aim is to reduce the fear and associated loss of function.

Some symptoms may appear earlier or later than indicated on this table and the stages may overlap. The progression through the stages is highly individual. The process of progression for each person will depend on many factors including the type of dementia, age of onset, the presence of other illnesses, the level of support and care available.

http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=dementia_symptoms#stages

 Where you can get help 

Use the links below to find your way around this site

Recognition

What to expect

What physiotherapy can do 

What you can do 

Where can you get help

References