1 / 22

Essential dementia awareness : describing dementia

South West Dementia Partnership. Essential dementia awareness : describing dementia. Welcome. Introductions Group Agreement What will be achieved from this session?. Main Talking Points. how to describe dementia the symptoms of dementia the different types of dementia

stevenb
Download Presentation

Essential dementia awareness : describing dementia

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. South West Dementia Partnership Essential dementia awareness: describing dementia

  2. Welcome • Introductions • Group Agreement • What will be achieved from this session?

  3. 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’

  4. What is dementia?Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms.

  5. 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?

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 2% 2% 3% 4% 10% 17% 62%

  11. Diagnosing dementia • Tests, for example the Mini Mental State Examination + • Scans, for example aCT 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?

  12. The Dementia Journey Awareness Of Difficulties Assessment Diagnosis Living with Dementia Support for : Person with Dementia Support for Carers End of life care

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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 ….Frightened

  16. Person Centred Approaches Working in a person centred way with people with dementia will: • Promote well being • Use a person’s strengths • Encourage positive communication (Refer to bite sized presentation ‘Person Centred Approaches’)

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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.

  22. Main Talking Points re-visited Any questions? • Describe dementia • Name the symptoms of dementia • Name 3 different types of dementia • Describe what happens when a person has delirium and depression

More Related