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Welcome
Introductions
Group Agreement
What will be achieved from this session?
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Main Talking Points
how to describe dementia the symptoms of dementia the different types of dementia the differences between dementia, depression and
delirium
Myth: ‘dementia means you will become incapable of living life with any meaning’
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
What is dementia?Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Memory difficulties
It becomes very hard to remember what has happened recently
It becomes difficult to learn new things Memories from the past can become more ‘real’
Can you think of any examples where a person with dementia has difficulties with memory?
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
A combination of symptoms
Dementia is more than just difficulties with memory: Cognitive Difficulties: difficulties with thinking Functioning Difficulties: difficulties with doing
everyday tasks Communication Difficulties: difficulties with
language and comprehension
MYTH: Dementia is when a person just loses their memory
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Thinking difficulties
It becomes hard to work out how to organise thinking to do everyday tasks
It becomes hard to concentrate and focus on tasks Losing track when undertaking a task with multiple
stages
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
What causes dementia?
Dementia is the result of brain cells being damaged in an ongoing way
This happens as a result of a number of different diseases, sometimes referred to as ‘types’ of dementia
It is not a normal part of ageing.
MYTH: getting older means you will get dementia.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Main diseases that cause dementia
There are 3 main diseases that cause dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease Vascular Dementia Lewy Body Dementia
There are lots of others
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
10%
17% 62%
4%2% 2%
3%
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Diagnosing dementia
Tests, for example the Mini Mental State Examination + Scans, for example a CT Scan (computerized axial
tomography) + Personal history from person and the person’s relatives
Discuss: why is it important for a person to have a diagnosis?
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
The Dementia Journey
AwarenessOf
Difficulties
AssessmentDiagnosis
Living with DementiaSupport for :
Person with DementiaSupport for Carers
End of life care
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Changes through dementia
Awareness - a person may begin to notice problems, for example, forgetting things. Other people might notice the person not managing their life in the usual way.
Assessment/Diagnosis - a person may start to struggle with everyday living, needing prompts and reminders. As it becomes more evident that the person is having difficulties this leads to assessment and a diagnosis.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Living with dementia
Living with dementia.– a person will need increasing ongoing support in a number of areas around everyday living.
Enabling a person to live well with dementia by focussing on a person’s strengths and well being is important throughout the course of the illness.
It is also essential to provide support, guidance and education about dementia to the carers who are living with the person.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Effect on feelings and emotions Each person with dementia will respond to the
difficulties they experience in an individual way depending on a person’s personality.
For some people having a range of difficulties in memory and thinking can result in a person feeling:
….Frustrated….Angry….Upset
….Distressed….Alone
….FrightenedSouth West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Person Centred Approaches
Working in a person centred way with people with dementia will:Promote well beingUse a person’s strengthsEncourage positive communication
(Refer to bite sized presentation ‘Person Centred Approaches’)
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Other causes of confusion
Delirium: Sometimes called ‘Toxic Confusional State’ A person who has delirium can often show similar
symptoms to a person who has dementia. Delirium often develops quickly and is usually
reversible.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Possible causes of delirium
Anaemia. Low blood sugar, hormone imbalance. Diarrhoea / Constipation Intolerance to medication. Infection: Chest Infection/ Urinary Tract Infection. Period after major operation.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
What happens:
Hallucinations and Delusions are often present and come on quickly
Thinking and reasoning are usually affected severely Severe confusion is often present.
Important note: A person may have dementia and also have delirium
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Depression
A person who is depressed can often show similar symptoms to a person who has dementia.
This is because depression affects: Concentration Motivation Ability to manage everyday tasks
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
Myth: A person with dementia does not get depressed
Important note: A person may have dementia and also be depressed.
Treatment options need to be explored for depression and delirium.
South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia
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