Service Types

What is Dementia?    

Dementia is a gradual loss of mental ability, resulting in loss of memory, changes in personality, and loss of social ability. Dementia is not a normal part of growing old, and most people never develop it.

Dementia is caused by conditions that damage thinking, memory, reasoning and language. There are many such conditions, some more common than others, including:

• Diseases and infections that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease or meningitis.
• Pressure on the brain, for example from a brain tumour.
• Lack of blood and oxygen supply to the brain, for example due to stroke.
• Head injuries.

Dementia is most common in those aged over 60, and becomes more common with age. About six in 100 people aged over 65 develop dementia, and this rises to around 20 in 100 for people aged 85 or over. It can develop in younger people, but this is rare, as only around one in 1,000 people under 65 are affected.

Many health care professionals, as well as patients and family members, mistakenly view the early symptoms of dementia as inevitable consequences of aging.  Dementia symptoms include: anxiety, paranoia, personality changes, lack of initiative and difficulty acquiring new skills.  

Dementia care requires a commitment to providing quality care. It focuses on the person and always recognizes the individual with respect and dignity. 

When a person with dementia finds that their mental abilities are declining, they often feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance and support. We do what we can to help the person retain their sense of identity and feelings of self-worth.

Each person experiences dementia in their own individual way. However, we can help the person to continue to make the best use of their particular skills and abilities as their condition changes by using encouragement, a reassuring routine and common-sense measures.

At first, dementia care might involve just a little extra effort to help the person with daily activities. Care giving becomes more time-consuming and complex as symptoms progress and behaviour problems develop. Eventually, around-the-clock availability will be required to handle the person’s most basic needs, then to provide palliative care.

Wandering is a dangerous side effect of Alzheimer’s disease in which patients set out on a trip and forget where they are going or why they are going there. As a result, people who suffer from the disease will often find themselves lost or unaware of their surroundings and reality – wandering far away from the safety of their home. They will sometimes set out with a goal in mind and forget that goal, or otherwise make plans based on events from long ago and end up severely confused. For these reasons, wandering is a potentially life-threatening danger that can cause acute stress for both the patient and his or her caregivers.

One of life’s greatest challenges is facing the reality that a parent is affected with a memory loss illness. If you are struggling with this issue and answer “yes” to some of these questions, it is probably time for a change. Please talk with us today and let us provide you with the options and opportunities that can make a positive difference in your loved one’s life. We can help you to work through the challenge of facilitating a change that your parent may not realize yet will prove to be an enriching and positive move.

Signs:

• Is your loved one able to keep the house and yard as clean as before? Do you notice laundry piling up? Do the floors, furniture and bathrooms need to be cleaned?
• Is your loved one able to retain personal cleanliness? Can your Mom or Dad shower and bathe regularly without help? Has personal hygiene changed?
• Has your loved one fallen behind on bills? Is old mail piling up? Do you notice clutter that was never there before?
• Is your Mom or Dad able to manage their medical care, schedule and remember regular appointments? Can they explain and follow through with medical recommendations?
• Are medications in order? Do you know if your Mom or Dad is taking his or her medications as prescribed? Can they name their medications and their use?
• Has your loved one been repeating themselves?
• Does your loved one interact in a socially appropriate manner for light conversation, and yet if the conversation becomes more complex, they do not follow or respond appropriately?
• If you have one parent that you are worried about, does the other parent often answer for them?
• Does your loved one frequently misplace items? Do you ever find items in an unexpected place?
• Is your loved one still cooking proper nutritious meals every day? Is he or she maintaining a healthy weight and getting some form of exercise?
• Do you worry about your loved one’s safety when alone and cooking?
• What is the condition of the items in the refrigerator? Are food items adequate in supply and not expired by date or appearance?
• Has your Mom or Dad lost interest in day to day activities and social activities? Does your loved one make excuses why they don’t participate with friends or engage in social events or church activities?
• Do you think your loved one feels isolated or lonely?
• Does your loved one forget your recent visits or calls?
• Does your loved one seem to be withdrawn, fearful or depressed? Has his or her manner or character changed?
• Has your loved one’s driving ability diminished? Have you questioned if they should still be driving? Has your loved one become lost while driving a familiar route?
• Has your loved one experienced a crisis situation recently such as a hospitalization or an episode of wandering away from home and not remembering how to get back?
• Does your loved one deny any problems or refuse to discuss the situation, even though you may have answered “yes” to several of the above items?

If you need more information please use the enquiry path right hand corner and one of our team will get back to you within 24 hrs.

 

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