CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA

The term dementia is used to describe a number of conditions associated with memory loss.

There are several diagnoses included in this term, but the three most common are:-

• Alzheimer’s Disease – approximately half of all people diagnosed are in this category. This is when parts of the brain slowly die off, so deterioration is a gradual process

• Multi–infarct Dementia – this is the second most common form of dementia. This is when the brain is damaged by a series of mini-strokes Deterioration is therefore in small steps, but does have similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s Disease.

• Lewy-Body Disease – this is not a well known diagnosis but it is estimated that as many as 20% of sufferers experience this form of dementia. This is when bodies in the brain damage nerve cells, resulting in symptoms similar to Parkinson’s Disease.

Different conditions respond to treatments and medication in different ways. Diagnosis is therefore very important.

What are some of the signs a carer might notice?
Symptoms vary from one individual to another, but some of the following would start to become apparent:

• Problems remembering things that happened a short while/ minutes ago but can remember things that happened years ago.

• Repeating conversations, asking the same questions over and over again.

• Cannot find the right words – nouns and peoples’ names are one of the first things forgotten.

• Loss of a second language – for people from ethnic minority communities with English as a second language, this causes greater isolation.

• Loss of skills eg. self care, putting clothes on in the wrong order, concentration to read and write, eating, shopping, driving, etc. As everything we do we have been taught, these skills could all gradually be lost.

• Inability to judge situations such as wandering, becoming inhibited, changing sexual behaviour, becoming more possessive, become scared, aggressive or suspicious, having obsessive thoughts.

• Loss of co-ordination of thought and movement, change in posture and mood.

How can a carer start to get some help?

• Many people are aware that their memory is failing them and that they are losing some of the skills which they have taken for granted. This can be an extremely scary time for them and their carer. It is relatively common that in the early stages they adopt coping skills to hide the symptoms, which in turn can make it difficult to encourage them to seek help and for the family doctor to gain a true picture to make an assessment of the situation.

• To determine a diagnosis a visit to the family doctor is the first course of action.

• The family doctor can then refer to a specialist or you can ask to be referred.

• Currently there is no medical test to determine a diagnosis of dementia and as there could be a number of conditions causing the behaviour a process of elimination will take place before a diagnosis is made.

• To reach this diagnosis doctors spend time talking to the patient, main carer, relative or close friend. This is often carried out at home in familiar surroundings.

What does this mean for you, the carer?

Caring for someone with a form of dementia can be a very demanding and testing time, leading to a change in lifestyle:

• Friends and relatives may stop visiting as unable to understand or cope with the situation.

• The person you care for cannot remember who you are.

• You feel guilty that you are not always doing enough for the person you are caring for.

• You become isolated and lonely and lose the confidence to go out.

• You can lose the art of conversation.

• You feel guilty when you do manage to go out, even for a short period of time and worry what you'll find when you go home.

• You get tired through lack of sleep if the cared for wanders or has an unpredictable sleep pattern.

It is important to remember that dementia is nothing to be ashamed of and that it is no ones fault, particularly if illnesses such as this are not usually discussed outside the family.
If you are the main carer it is important to get support for yourself and to remember you are an individual with needs of your own.

How can we help YOU the carer?

• Visits to you in your home by one of our workers

• You can come in to see one of our workers

• Regular telephone contact from one of our workers or volunteers

• Help you to take a break

Useful Telephone Numbers and Addresses

Alzheimer’s Society
Devon House
58 St Katharine’s Way
London, E1W 1JX
Tel: 020 7264 5980
Email: elo@alzheimers.org.uk
A helpline is available on the third Thursday of the month from 8.30am to 9.30pm
Tel: 0845 300 0336

Barking and Havering Health Authority
The Clock House
East Street
Barking
IG11 8EY
Tel: 020 8591 9595

Older People’s Mental Health Services
Hedgecock Centre
Barking Hospital
Upney Lane
Barking
IG11 7LX
Tel: 020 8276 7888/9

Barking & Dagenham Social Services
The Intake Team is the first point of contact to request an assessment of he needs of the person you care for or for a carer’s assessment. Contact them on 020 8227 2915