If you are a carer for someone living with dementia, you may know of the ups and downs that come with managing the condition. We all want the best for those we care about, but we may not always know what we can do to help. Fortunately, gaining a better understanding of dementia and the symptoms that accompany it can lead us down a path to efficiently navigating it.
Dementia doesn’t only refer to one condition but is an umbrella term for range of conditions that affect how the brain works. Some you may have heard of are Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, Korsakoff dementia, Frontotemporal dementia and Vascular dementia. Nonetheless, all forms are a result of changes to the brain due to physical damage, affecting key areas responsible for memory, thinking, language, emotion and movement. In this blog we will be covering 4 prominent symptoms of dementia and how you can implement methods to help improve your loved one’s quality of life.
mEMORY lOSS
Firstly, it’s important to note that all symptoms of dementia are progressive, meaning that that they generally worsen over time, so the sooner we identify and understand them, the easier it will be to deal with them along the line. One of the more well known of these symptoms is memory loss, which is most associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. This occurs when the areas of the brain responsible for creating and retrieving memories are impaired, affecting a person’s ability to do both. People with the condition may:
- Have trouble remembering recent events or recognising people
- Ask questions repetitively
- Have difficulty finding the right words
- Be unable to track medication
- Be unfamiliar with familiar surroundings
- Forget fundamental aspects of their personality, such as beliefs
In later stages of dementia, the person may not recognise close family and friends or remember where they live or where they are. These changes may be more obvious to family and friends than the person themselves.
hOW TO HELP WITH MEMORY LOSS
One of the most effective ways, to help a person suffering with dementia to recall their memories is by giving them cues associated with what they’re trying to remember. For example, if they’re struggling to remember someone’s name, try to use language that can provide context without highlighting that they have forgotten such as ‘Your son, Michael’ instead of ‘Michael is your son’. The same principle could be applied if they are unsure of a word you’re using; they may not remember what an object is called but they might remember what it is used for.
These cues can be put into a ‘memory book’ comprised of photos and descriptions, which can be referred to whenever needed. And the simplest way to help, is not to rush them when they’re trying to recall a word. They may feel pressured and in turn find it more difficult to remember.
INABILITY to Manage Daily Tasks
As their memory changes, it isn’t uncommon for someone with dementia to struggle with familiar daily tasks. They may find difficulty understanding instructions given to them or forget mid task. Their ability to make informed decisions and plans for social activities or scheduled appointments may also be impaired.
How to Help with Managing Daily Tasks
For the most part, the person with dementia will need help from others in making decisions. However, to help them regain a sense of independence, suggest providing them with written cues they can refer to such as a diary, a calendar or sticky notes to help them remember appointments and visits. Cues, whether written or visual, can trigger memories and facilitate communication.
Communication Difficulties
In later stages of dementia, those suffering may encounter difficulties communicating or lose the ability to speak altogether, which can make figuring out and understanding their needs tricky. In this case, the person may resort to non-verbal communication strategies, such as facial expressions, touching or hand gestures as their ability to process information gets weaker.
How to Help with Communication Difficulties
If you notice that the person with dementia is speaking less than they used to, it’s good to frequently initiate conversations with them. This can be crucial for maintaining their sense of identity, cognitive function and can help to strengthen your bond with them. For this to be effective, there are some key things to remember:
- Speak slowly, clearly and make eye contact to encourage them
- Don’t rush or pressure them to respond
- Encourage them to join conversations with others
- Rephrase sentences when they struggle to understand and try alternative ways of communicating
But most importantly, exercise patience and active listening as this can improve their communication. For example, don’t interrupt them, maintain eye contact and acknowledge what they’ve said, even if it doesn’t make sense or seems out of context.
Personality and Mood Changes
There are many dementia-related caused for changes in personality and mood. Frontotemporal dementia, for example, can lead to reduced sensitivity to others’ feelings, impulsive behaviours, a lack of social awareness and apathy. People with frontotemporal dementia can become more withdrawn and socially isolated as the condition progresses.
The Sundowning Effect is another common cause for dementia-based mood changes. This is a phenomenon that causes people with dementia experience behavioural changes during sunset hours. This can manifest as increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, irritability, and other behavioural changes during the late afternoon or evening, typically as the sun begins to set. While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, the fact that people with dementia often have difficulty processing time or managing their sleep-wake cycles, may contribute.
How to Help with Personality and Mood Changes
For general mood changes, try keeping a diary to track the person with dementia’s mood changes and ask questions such as:
- What time of day do the behaviours start?
- What triggers the cause behavioural changes?
- Is the person over-stimulated?
Establishing a consistent daily schedule with regular activities, including those that they enjoy, are social and physical. These can provide structure and help reduce confusion, which can also help with the sundowning effect. This includes regular exercise or encouraging more relaxing activities during the evening, like listening to calm music or reading. In a well-lit environment, this can soothe them at the end of the day. Remember that overstimulating activities can cause exhaustion and fatigue.
REACHING OUT
Caring for another person isn’t easy, so don’t hesitate to ask your GP for advice if you’re finding things difficult. If you need an extra hand with care support, Sweet Tree offers specialist dementia service with qualified experts in the dementia field. Everyone’s dementia journey will be unique to their situation, so we focus on a care service that is tailored to each person’s specific needs. If you or a loved one need help, leave an enquiry or reach out to our expert team today for more information, to explore care options or simply for a friendly chat. We’re here to help.