Live in care at Home – Elderly home care blog

Total recall of every experience is not something most people would desire. We tend instead to remember the things that are important to us. Even then, what can seem to us to be very clear memories can be wrong. We may add or omit things for many different reasons.

However, for some people, their memory may begin to decline because of changes in the structure of their brain. These changes can lead to other symptoms, which, taken together, can be both distressing and disabling. This usually happens as we reach the last years of our lives, but it can happen earlier.

Some people – by either adjusting their lifestyle, or by seeking some support – can carry on living a fulfilled life. Others may need to be cared for full-time.

What are the symptoms?
The labels of ‘dementia’ or ‘Alzheimer’s’ – which is just one type of dementia- are less important than a person’s ability to remain safely in their own home. The main symptom is loss of memory: often the person will remember things that happened many years ago very clearly, but events in the recent past are forgotten.

This can also happen – to a lesser degree – as part of the normal ageing process and so does not in itself mean that a person is developing dementia.

There’s often a pattern of other thinking problems and behaviour that (in union with severe loss of short-term memory) may mean that a person’s ability to care for themselves is declining. Other symptoms can include:

– lack of concentration
– confusion about time and place
– self-neglect
– restlessness
– a tendency to wander aimlessly
– sometimes saying or doing outrageous things
– mood can be depressed, anxious or agitated
– reasoning can be come slow and muddled
– some people may experience hallucinations or delusions

Dementia rarely happens suddenly. For most people, the process is a slow development. There are many causes of memory loss and dementia, and each type will present a different pattern of these symptoms.

The underlying cause isn’t always clear. Alzheimer’s disease does appear to run in families, but having a relative with Alzheimer’s doesn’t appear significantly to raise your own risk of developing the problem.

There are some types – as in vascular dementia – where part of the cause can be identified as a reduced blood supply to the brain. This is most often caused by high blood pressure, but when this isn’t the case it’s not always clear why the brain’s blood supply should have reduced.

How common is it?
Most types of dementia become more common with age. About five per cent of people aged 65 or over may have some form of Alzheimer’s, while about 20 per cent of people aged 80 or over will. This doesn’t mean that five per cent of 65-year-olds will need to be cared for in special hospital wards for the elderly. Many, with comparatively mild symptoms, may be able to cope in sheltered accommodation – or stay at home supported by home helps and nursing care.

What can I do to help myself?
The first thing is not to worry unnecessarily. A problem with forgetfulness doesn’t mean that you have dementia.

If you find yourself forgetting certain things, you could try to give yourself memory prompts. If (for instance) you find that you forget to buy food, leave notes in your kitchen cupboards near the back, reminding you to go to the shops. So when you come across the notes, keep them on you until you have bought more food.

This may seem cumbersome, but it’s only an extension of the ‘to do’ lists that people make in everyday life.

If you’re worried that things might be getting worse, it’s important to share those worries with someone you can trust. If this doesn’t include members of your family, it may be wise to consult your family doctor.

If there comes a time when you’re unable to take decisions for yourself, you may want to set out in advance the arrangements you’d like to be made for your care. It may be possible for you to appoint someone trusted to have power of attorney over your affairs.

What professional help is available?
There are specialist teams in most areas that care for people with dementia; they’re usually part of the local mental health services. It’s usual for referrals to be made through a family doctor. Teams usually consist of psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses (CPNs), clinical psychologists and social workers.

For most dementias, there are no treatments or cures for the condition. However, some of the symptoms can be lessened by careful use of medication.

Otherwise, teams caring for people with dementia will often be concerned with monitoring the course of the condition, and ensuring the environment in which the person is living is best suited to their needs.

Another good source of information is the Royal College of Psychiatrists online factsheets.

It’s also important to look after the carers of people with dementia, who are often relatives looking after people at home, which can be very stressful.

News reported by The BBC

Alzheimers Research Trust
Alzheimers Society