Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
About Alzheimer's & Dementia
According to the Alzheimer's Society, more than 685,000 people in England have dementia, with 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 living with the condition. The likelihood of developing the various forms of dementia increases with age, with 1 in 5 people over the age of 80 having the condition.
Dementia is the umbrella term to describe the symptoms found with a number of diseases of the brain. The most common form is Alzheimer’s, with 62% of cases, followed by vascular dementia with 17%. Some 10% of people have mixed forms of the disease, often Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Less common forms of dementia include Dementia with Lewy bodies, 4% of cases, frontotemporal dementia, 2% of cases, and Parkinson’s dementia 2% of cases. There are over 100 conditions that can cause dementia with most being very rare.
Dementia is a progressive disease for which there is as yet no cure. There are some drugs that can improve symptoms or slow the progress of the condition. However it the care and support people living with dementia enjoy that has a profound impact on their quality of life.
Each individual will experience dementia in a unique way. The different forms of dementia also tend to affect people differently. As well as having difficulty recalling recent events people living with dementia will also have problems with things such as:
- Language – finding the right words.
- Planning and organising – cooking a meal or a going on shopping trip.
- Orientation – losing track of where they are or what time it is.
- Recognition – of people.
- Visual perception – problems with distances and objects.
- Other senses - loss of taste and sense of smell.
Dementia often results in mood changes with the person becoming anxious, upset or sad. As the condition develops, changes in behaviour may also occur, such as repetitive questioning, wandering, pacing and hallucinations.
Alzheimer’s Society studies suggest that 77% of people with dementia have felt anxious or depressed and 61% feel lonely always or some of the time. Consequently it is vital that a person living with dementia receives the care and support they need to value the person they still are and live as full a life as they can.
All About Home Care is committed to helping our clients live well with dementia.