What Do Dementia Patients Think

Cope With Changes In Communication

As your loved ones Alzheimers or dementia progresses, youll notice changes in how they communicate. They may have trouble finding words, substitute one word for another, repeat the same things over and over, or become easily confused. Increased hand gestures, losing their train of thought, and even inappropriate outbursts are all common as well.

Even if your loved one has trouble maintaining a conversationor less interest in starting oneits important to encourage social interaction. Making them feel safe rather than stressed will make communication easier, so try to manage your own frustration levels.

Be patient. If your loved one has difficulty recalling a word, for example, allow them time. Getting anxious or impatient will only inhibit their recall. Gently supply the word or tell the person that you can come back to it later.

Be aware of your body language. Your loved one responds to your facial expression, tone of voice, and nonverbal cues as much as the words you choose. Make eye contact, stay calm, and keep a relaxed, open posture.

Speak slowly and clearly. Give one direction or ask one question at a time, use short sentences, and give your loved one more time to process whats being said. Find a simpler way to say the same thing if it wasnt understood the first time.

Maintain respect. Dont use patronizing language, baby talk, or sarcasm. It can cause hurt or confusion.

Check Their Advance Care Plan

You should find out if the person has an advance care plan. This document may record their preferences about the care theyd like to receive, including what they want to happen, what they dont want to happen and who they want to speak on their behalf. It may include an advance statement or an advance decision. We have information on planning ahead;for patients and their families, which you might find useful.

Loss Of Mental Ability

Memory problems are usually the most obvious symptom in people with dementia. Forgetfulness is common. As a rule, the most recent events are the first forgotten. For example, a person with early stages of dementia might go to the shops and then cannot remember what they wanted. It is also common to misplace objects.

Early memories stay longest. Events of the past are often remembered well until the dementia is severe. Many people with dementia can talk about their childhood and early life. As dementia progresses, sometimes memory loss for recent events is severe and the person may appear to be living in the past. They may think of themself as young and not recognise their true age.

Someone with dementia may not know common facts when questioned . They may have difficulty remembering names or finding words. They may appear to be asking questions all the time.

Language problems can also develop. For example, someone with dementia may have difficulty understanding what is said to them or understanding written information. Problems with attention and concentration can also occur. It is common for someone with dementia not to be able to settle to anything and this can make them appear restless.

Don’t Miss: Can You Die From Alzheimer Dementia

Monday 17 September 2018

Dementia is the term given to a group of diseases that affect a persons thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday tasks. While its commonly thought of as an older persons disease, dementia can affect people of all ages.

Early symptoms of dementia can be vague and vary between people. While some people pick up on changes in their own thinking or behaviour that might be caused by dementia, sometimes these signs are first noticed by those around them.

If youve noticed a change in someone close to you, the steps below can help you assist them in seeking diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Hallucinations And False Ideas

Dementia may cause the person to lose the ability to recognise things because the brain does not accurately interpret the information that it has received. Examples of this include failure to recognise a partner or the house in which the person lives.

Problems with memory, which occur in dementia, may lead to suspiciousness, paranoia and false ideas. If people with dementia are unaware that their memory is poor, they will often create an interpretation in which someone or something else is blamed. This is understandable when they may live in a world with no memory of recent events, where things disappear, explanations can be forgotten and conversations do not always make sense.;

Read Also: How To Differentiate Delirium From Dementia

Vascular Dementia Signs And Symptoms

Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression also varies from person to person. Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia and usually reflect increasing difficulty to perform everyday activities like eating, dressing, or shopping.

Behavioral and physical symptoms can come on dramatically or very gradually, although it appears that a prolonged period of TIAsthe mini-strokes discussed aboveleads to a gradual decline in memory, whereas a bigger stroke can produce profound symptoms immediately. Regardless of the rate of appearance, vascular dementia typically progresses in a stepwise fashion, where lapses in memory and reasoning abilities are followed by periods of stability, only to give way to further decline.

What Is Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease is a progressive degenerative disorder that causes brain cells to shrink and die. About 5.8 million people in the U.S. age 65 and older live with Alzheimers.

Memory loss and confusion are the primary symptoms of the disease, and it is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly.

Early signs of Alzheimers include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, these memory lapses become more frequent, and symptoms gradually become noticeable. As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimers will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability to perform activities of daily living.

You May Like: How Do You Treat Someone With Dementia

A Person With Dementia Feels Confused More And More Often When They Cant Make Sense Of The World Or Get Something Wrong They May Feel Frustrated And Angry With Themselves They May Become Angry Or Upset With Other People Very Easily They Might Not Be Able To Say Why They May Not Know Why

Everyone feels confused sometimes. Its the feeling you get when things dont make sense, or you dont know what you should be doing.

If someone seems angry with you, it can feel horrible. Remember that its not your fault, and its not their fault. It happens because the persons brain is not well. They may not be able to control their emotions any more. They may not be able to put themselves in your shoes, and realise they are upsetting you.

People with dementia can still feel nice feelings, too. They can feel happy, safe and calm. Some people with dementia may seem like their usual self almost every day and you may only notice small changes every now and then. Some people with dementia may not have as many good days. Those days when they do feel more like their old self can be particularly special.

Everyone with dementia is different. Dont be afraid to ask questions. If the person you know has not been ill for very long, they may be able to tell you what dementia feels like for them.

A person who has had dementia for longer may not be able to tell you how they feel. But you can learn to recognise when they are feeling happy, safe and calm.

Practical Tips On Preventing Some False Beliefs And Delusions

If possible, in the early stages of dementia, decide with the person, on places to keep essential items such as keys, handbag and money, so you can establish a routine and locate important things more easily.

You could also:

• keep spares of important items that might get misplaced, like glasses or keys
• make sure the person with dementia has regular hearing and sight tests
• monitor the person with dementia for any signs of infection, constipation or other physical ill health, and seek a medical appointment quickly
• look out for possible side effects if there has been a change in medication. Occasionally some medications can cause or exacerbate false beliefs or delusions
• check the person with dementia is eating and drinking sufficiently
• try to keep to a routine and limit changes to the persons environment
• keep photographs of them and close family/friends through different life stages around the house, to help them recognise the present time

Read Also: Are Men Or Women More Likely To Get Alzheimers

Social And Emotional Activities

Engaging;people with dementia;in regular physical, social, and emotional activities is a promising strategy for keeping the condition at bay. The activities you choose should result in lifestyle change and long-term activity participation.

Examples include:

• Reading with or to them
• Going on a short outing in nature
• Baking something or cooking meals together
• Watching a movie, TV show, or family videos together
• Sing their favorites songs as a group
• Go to museums and festivals as a group
• Make a;memory box;with other members of the family
• Have them tell stories or read books out loud;

How To Cope With Common Changes In Behaviour

Although changes in behaviour can be difficult to deal with, it can help to work out if there are any triggers.

For example:

• Do some behaviours happen at a certain time of day?
• Is the person finding the home too noisy or cluttered?
• Do these changes happen when a person is being asked to do something they may not want to do?

Keeping a diary for 1 to 2 weeks can help identify these triggers.

If the change in behaviour comes on suddenly, the cause may be a health problem. The person may be in pain or discomfort from constipation or an infection.

Ask a GP for an assessment to rule out or treat any underlying cause.

Keeping an active social life, regular exercise, and continuing activities the person enjoys, or finding new ones, can help to reduce behaviours that are out of character.

Read more about activities for dementia.

Other things that can help include:

• providing reassurance
• activities that give pleasure and confidence, like listening to music or dancing
• therapies, such as animal-assisted therapy, music therapy, and massage

Remember also that it’s not easy being the person supporting or caring for a person with behaviour changes. If you’re finding things difficult, ask for support from a GP.

You May Like: How To Move A Parent With Dementia To Assisted Living

Play To Their Strengths

Sometimes;memory loss is so devastating that;we all;forget that there is a person still in there somewhere. Family members can be distraught by what’s missing and forget that there’s still a lot there within the person, and that they have strengths.

They still have long-term memory, so its up to the caregiver and/or family member to find them. It’s interesting that, medically, doctors do tests on other conditions but when it comes to memory loss,;it’s often looked at like a switch: Either they got it, or they don’t. Just like everything else, there’s a progression of memory loss, and its up to the caregiver and/or family member to find out where the patient and/or loved one is, and bolster that.

Strength #1: Long-term memory & stories

Everyone has a short-term memory drawer and long-term memory drawer, and we put information in each. People with dementia and/or Alzheimers have a short-term memory drawer that has no bottom. He/she puts things in, and then they get lost. The long-term memory drawer, however, has a solid bottom. Lots of stories that are retrievable await . Encourage your patients and/or loved ones to tell you stories. You can even use photos to encourage stories. Photos are wonderful long-term memory reminders.

Strength #2: Humor & music

Strength #3: Spirituality

How Do You Make A Dementia Patient Happy

Continue reading to find out some suggestions of activities to do with you loved ones living with dementia and Alzheimers.Exercise and physical activity. Reminisce about their life. Engage them in their favourite activities. Cooking and baking. Animal therapy. Go out and about. Explore nature. Read their favourite book.More itemsJun 26, 2017

Read Also: What Is It Like To Have Alzheimer’s

When Should I Ask For Support

Supporting people with dementia at the end of their life requires a team approach. Often, there will be many people involved in the persons care at the end of their life. Good communication and information sharing helps to ensure the person receives the care they need.

If youre unsure about anything or have any concerns seek advice from a colleague, manager or another health care professional.

There may be certain professionals who can advise on specific issues. These may include a GP, district nurses, social workers, other care staff and specialists.

What Is The 12 Week Property Disregard

The 12-week property disregard This is called a 12-week property disregard. The 12-week property disregard is designed to give you breathing space to prepare the property for sale or decide whether you want to sell. The council will pay your care home fees for these 12 weeks, or until your property sells, if sooner.

Don’t Miss: Does Diet Coke Cause Alzheimer’s

What Support Is Available For Me If I Care For Someone With Dementia

When youre caring for someone else, its easy to overlook your own needs. But looking after your health and making time for yourself can help you feel better and cope better with your caring role.

Caring for someone with dementia may lead to feelings of guilt, sadness, confusion or anger. Unlike with other conditions, it can be difficult to share these feelings with someone with dementia, leaving you feeling very isolated.

Its important to acknowledge these feelings, and theres no right or wrong way to feel. If youre feeling anxious, depressed or struggling to cope stressed, talk to your doctor who can let you know about help and support available to you.

Having A Long List Of Activities For People With Dementia On Hand Is Only The First Step

Things not to do with dementia patients. How this Denmark student is working to help treat dementia patients support health care industry through medical research Krish Wadhwani a junior at Denmark High School founded HD Solvera in 2019 after beginning his research into synthetic therapuetics which he hopes will lead to a new treatment for dementia patients. The hospital visitation authorization document provides medical. The role of the SLP is to assess cognitive-communication deficits related to dementia eg memory problems.

You know what to do but you may not know how to approach the exercises. The diagnosis of dementia is made by a medical team. Patients can state the correct date time and they are.

Depression and dementia. Disorientation to time place and person. This may trigger physical violence.

Placing a feeding tube does not stop saliva production and is one of the most uncomfortable things we do to medical patients. According to the World Health Organization WHO approximately 50 million people suffer from dementia and nearly 10 million new cases crop up each year. Implementing the free water protocol does not result in aspiration pneumonia in carefully selected patients with dysphagia.

I am not in my fifties and am not any worse. Patients have difficulty concentrating. I did similar things as you when I was in my twenties and thirties.

Talk to your husband more about this. Mental decline is rapid.

Pin On Your Toolbox

Pin On Health

Pin On Your Toolbox

Recommended Reading: Can Lack Of B12 Cause Dementia

What Does Dementia Feel Like

This informative and moving video from Social Care Institute for Excellence;explains;some of the;things a person with dementia or Alzheimers disease experiences on a daily basis.;Were taken through an average day through the eyes of a dementia patient and listen as she details her confusion and trains of thought.

The film powerfully demonstrates some of the confusing and often frightening occurrences dementia patients go through, some of which youd expect, such as having trouble remembering where they are or who different people are, but some of the symptoms are more physical and eyesight problems are common. We get to see how unpredictable dementia can be and how difficult it is for caregivers and;patients.

What exactly is Alzheimers disease? Heres what you need to know.

Alzheimers;News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Should You Keep Trying To Communicate

Family members may frequently ask, How often should I visit?, or, Should I visit at all, because they dont seem to be understanding what were saying, most of the time they dont seem to recognize me, etc. Caregivers can encourage family members to visit because its important to them. Also, the person with memory loss may catch some things on some days, and if family members can make the interaction a pleasant moment, it can be rewarding for both.

Communication amongst family becomes particularly difficult when the person with dementia and/or Alzheimers doesn’t recognize family members anymore.;In this situation, a spouse or children can think that it doesnt do any good to go talk to the personthat anyone could talk to him/her because they dont remember who they are. But there is a richness that happens because of family history together, something that can only come from people that have been family or friends for a long time.;

The type of communication families can get out of visits can be pulled from the strength of the patient and/or loved ones long-term memories. They can still talk about the past, and for family members, to hear those things are perhaps a worthwhile gift.

Even though;the patient and/or loved one;can no longer communicate the way they used to, there are still other ways to enjoy time together. There is beauty and simplicity in being in the present moment.

Don’t Miss: What Stage Of Alzheimer’s Is Aphasia