An introduction to dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms such as memory loss or difficulty with thinking, problem solving or language. It’s most common causes are Alzheimer’s disease and strokes, which cause vascular dementia by affecting blood supply to the brain.

After long being neglected, dementia is now gaining recognition as one of the biggest challenges facing the UK. The disease is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales, with 850,000 people living with the condition, around one in twenty of whom are under the age of 65.

It’s important to remember that dementia is not a normal part of the ageing process. Early symptoms, such as memory loss, disorientation, or withdrawal from work or social activities should not be dismissed lightly, and potential sufferers should always talk to their doctor or GP.

How can it affect people?

As dementia is a progressive disease, people will unfortunately lose their independence over time. While there are drugs that can slow down the progress of the disease, there is currently no cure, and most drugs can only slow the rate of progress by around 6-18 months. Some of the things to consider when helping someone with dementia include:

Use the four Ps:

• Person: get the person’s full attention
• Place: make sure it’s quiet and light
• Position: ensure the person can clearly see you and that your face is well lit
• Proximity: sit slightly closer than normal (without invading personal space) and allow the person time to understand and process information before answering

Can you create a regular routine, to help people feel more secure? Ensuring that people can do things easily and without hindrance, such as leaving bathroom doors open, can also help people with the condition.

Do they need help with their finances? Keeping on top of finances can be an important part of coping with dementia, with this ranging from help with regular bills and paperwork, to creating a financial passport where everything is in one place, or arranging a lasting power of attorney, giving you the ability to manage somebody’s finances on their behalf.

Efforts to raise awareness of dementia

The good news is that there are many different initiatives and individuals working to raise awareness of dementia. One particular campaign by the Alzheimer’s Society is working to create a network of ‘Dementia Friendly Communities’ – groups of people who work to raise awareness of the disease across society. More than 220 communities across the country already have the designation, with the Alzheimer’s Society recently announcing that more than 2.5 million people had taken part in its Dementia Friends initiative since 2013.