dementia advice .

monkeyspanner

pineapple wrote: »

Hi
I used to work with carers where a family member had dementia.
I have actually had people threaten suicide should, say, the Alzheimer's word be mentioned. 'Dementia' of whatever variety, isn't much better.
The way I got round it was to talk initially in terms of 'memory problems'. I think you have to go by where that person is at, in terms of acceptance.
Some types of dementia can progress very quickly. In other instances, people can live in their own home for many years with support.
The other thing is to try to get over the stigma. It is nothing to do with intelligence, class, gender....
The local Alzheimer's Society or an organisation like Carer's Resource should be able to put you in touch with sitting and befriending services which may well be free.
There are things you can do to help that person maintain independence. Like a white board on which to write upcoming dates/appointments - or large calendar clocks which roll over the day and date.
There is also a national organisation called CareAware which gave me legal and financial advice in respect of my own mother. Their advice is free.
Good luck.

In my MIL's caes it was more about getting the GP to recognise that there was a problem. Once that hurdle was overcome and a specialist involved medication did help my MIL significantly. Delayed diagnosis is in itself a problem. Many relatives can cope with the diagnosis it is the !!!!! footing around that is the problem for some.

pineapple

monkeyspanner wrote: »

In my MIL's caes it was more about getting the GP to recognise that there was a problem. Once that hurdle was overcome and a specialist involved medication did help my MIL significantly. Delayed diagnosis is in itself a problem. Many relatives can cope with the diagnosis it is the !!!!! footing around that is the problem for some.

Yes this is another issue. And the problem is we are sometimes unintentionally complicit with this because we want to be told there is nothing wrong!
I'm afraid persistence and getting other opinions is sometimes the only way.

Mojisola

monkeyspanner wrote: »

In my MIL's caes it was more about getting the GP to recognise that there was a problem. Once that hurdle was overcome and a specialist involved medication did help my MIL significantly. Delayed diagnosis is in itself a problem. Many relatives can cope with the diagnosis it is the !!!!! footing around that is the problem for some.

This was a big problem for us. It was relatively easy for Mum to look and sound fine for ten minutes during a GP's appointment. It look a long time before they listened to me about the kind of thing that was happening on a daily basis.

foyod

Dementia is most common in older adults. However, it can affect younger people and they are likely to face different problems and challenges to the older person.

Circumstances can differ on a day to day basis due to the different brain disorders and the resulting progressive decline in their abilities to remember, to think and to reason but also physical disabilities, walking, movement, Visual Spatial disorder and many other disorders this decline may be accompanied by changes in personality and behaviour.

Friends of Yods hope to bring this illness to the forefront and to educate people to the effects the devastating condition can change individual lives.

Young Onset Dementia is not widely known as it is considered an old age illness and in some cases there may be young children living at home which make this situation a huge responsibility, not only physically and mentally but also financially.

There is just not enough public awareness which ultimately leads to total frustration and isolation of everyone involved, People tend to accept dementia as a product of old age, but imagine having to accommodate and manage a person who is barely half way through their lives.

They deserve to receive the same dignity that any middle aged person would require and expect.