Living with Dementia
Living with dementia can make life very confusing and may require considerable lifestyle changes not only to yourself but to the rest of the family too. At Watra Care, we provide professional dementia care and support you will require during this period, Watra Care will provide you with the dementia care you can count on.
Different forms of Dementia and it’s effects
- Alzheimer’s
- Majority of dementia cases are a result of Alzheimer’s disease and are usually needed for older people
- Chemical changes may cause brain cells to die
- Vascular or multi- infarct dementia
- Second popular form of dementia
- An individual may experience an episode of strokes, preventing oxygen from reaching the brain and leading to the loss of brain cells
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Rare; only affects 4% of the people with dementia
- include abnormal proteins found in the brain, also leading to the loss of brain cells
- often confused and misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease because of its symptoms
- Fronto-temporal dementia e.g. Pick’s disease.
- Typically included people aged 45-65
People may assume dementia is unavoidable to people of older age, this is incorrect, whilst it is more commonly found in older people, younger adults may experience dementia too. In the UK there are currently 850,000 people living in the UK living with dementia. By 2025, this figure is expected to increase to a million.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms will vary depending what form of dementia an individual may have and which area of the brain has been affected.
Fronto-temporal dementia will affect the front and sides of the brain. The front of the brain is used for planning and controlling our behaviour, people affected in this part of the brain may behaviour or personality change (e.g. becoming impulsive). The side of the brain is more likely to cause issues with communication and the ability to remember details.
People experiencing Lewy Bodies may experience hallucinations.
Whilst there is no specific cure for dementia it can be slowed down if treated soon enough. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the care. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please seek medical assistance as soon as possible:
Whilst dementia cannot be cured, the condition can be slowed down if it is caught early enough. Early diagnosis can also enable you to access the right dementia care. If you notice any of the following symptoms it is vital to seek medical help as soon as possible.
- Regular memory loss
- Experience of mental confusion
- Slow thinking and inability to find the right works
- Indecisive in making decisions and difficulty understanding
- Personality, mood and behaviour changes
- Laziness and lack of interest in activities
- Persistent hallucinations
- Lack of confidence and inability to manage daily tasks
Diagnosis
Dementia can only be diagnosed by a post-moderm examination. Your GP will then examine whether or not your symptoms have been caused by another condition such as depression or chest infection for example, or as a direct side effect of medication. After this has been done, your GP is likely to refer you to a specialist psychiatrist or neuro-psychologist. They are likely to:
- Discuss any implications with the affected person or people considered close to the affected person
- Organise a brain scan and carry out a physical examination
- Using programs to test one’s memory and thoughts (i.e. Mini Mental State)
Care & Support to stay well
At Watra Care, our experienced and specialist staff will assist you to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. We offer a range of dementia care plans which include:
- Support with taking a bath
- Support with changing clothes and dressing up
- Helping you manage your symptoms by giving you medication assistance
- Providing you a regular and effective exercise routine, keeping you in shape
- Ensuring a sufficient amount of food and drink is made available to you and ensuring you have a healthy diet
- Supporting you with daily household chores
- Encouraging you to become involved with social activities, ensuring you and your loved ones are supported during hard times
Find out more about dementia and the support available from the Alzheimer’s Society.
How to find the right care assistant for you or your relative
1. Find Your Local Office
Watra Care delivers care from locally based offices, find yours to start your care journey today.
2. Get in touch with us
Fill in our call back form or give us a call to find out how we can help you
3. Assessment
We’ll come out to you to find out what you or your loved one needs to help stay independent at home.
4. Care assistant chosen & care starts
You’ll be cared for by one of our specially trained team to support you to remain at home for as long as possible.
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