Your Best Advice on Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

Dementia, Ageing And Quality Of Life

Dementia is a terminal condition. It is caused by a variety of diseases including Alzheimer's, Vascular, Parkinson's and Huntingdon disease. It involves the progressive loss of mental and ultimately, physical functions in those affected. At the end, it results in death from the progressive and irreversible death of brain cells. Dementia is NOT a normal part of ageing but only ASSOCIATED with ageing. About 90% of dementias occur in people above the age of 65 but it is worth noting that of all those above the age of 65, only one in ten (ie 10%) have dementia.This figure increases with age and reaches 50% among those aged 95 and over. Although dementia is often looked upon as a hopeless condition,it is a fact that when strategies and support networks are put in place and implemented at the correct time, those affected can benefit from maximised improvement in their quality of life across the dementia trajectory.

Dementia

How to improve healthcare for those affected by Dementia

Dementia is a very debilitating illness that is not reversible and there is still no cure for it. However, there are ways in which we can help people who suffer from this kind of conditions maintain way of life that allows them to keep their dignity as much as possible. If certain needs are met, the person affected by dementia is going to be able to live in a safe environment that suits their condition and their limitations.

Proper assessment of the condition is necessary

The treatment for dementia is going to depend on the stage of the condition and how much of the brain has deteriorated because of it. The kind of care that is given to a person on the initial stages of the illness is nothing like the treatment that is given to those who have been suffering from it for a long time.

This is the main reason why the proper evaluation of the condition is essential and tracking its evolution is going to be just as important to make necessary changes in the way that the patient is cared for and treated.

Individual care planning

Every person who suffers from dementia experiences different problems, but most stages have a large number of symptoms that are commonly displayed. With that said, the need for individual care planning is very important and no two patients are going to have the same kind of care given to them.

The process of creating a customized care plan for a patient is going to be determined by their symptoms and their most common reactions when they feel lost or they feel their cognitive skills are failing to help them get through the most common problems.

Family members and friends should be involved

Every person that interacts with the individual that is suffering from dementia should be involved in this process. The ideal situation is for everyone around the patient to know how to deal with any kind of problems and issues that relate to dementia. This is going to create a much better environment for the patient.

Anxiety, depression and a wide range of emotions including anger and indifference are all going to be experienced by people with dementia at some point during the progression of their condition. The best way deal with this is for everyone to be as informed as possible.

 

WHAT IS DEMENTIA ?

TEN EARLY SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMENTIA. THE FOLLOWING 4 VIDEOS COVER THE MOST COMMON TYPES:

 

TYPES OF DEMENTIA: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

TYPES OF DEMENTIA:  DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES

TYPES OF DEMENTIA: FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

TYPES OF DEMENTIA: VASCULAR DEMENTIA