What is dementia?
Dementia is a disability, not an illness. And with the right environment and new techniques, it can be managed so that your loved one can continue to have a rich and meaningful life. The name ‘Dementia’ is a collective name for a set of symp-toms that have to do with how the brain functions.
People with symptoms of dementia may have problems with their memory - with re-membering events or experiences they’ve had, recalling facts and or concepts about their world, remembering how to do routine tasks or thinking ahead of what needs to happen in the future.
They may also have trouble recognising objects, performing everyday activities or understanding and using language.
What are the symptoms of dementia?
The Alzheimer’s Society originally published the following ten signs of dementia. If you recognise these symptoms in your loved one, speak with a doctor.
- Experiencing difficulty remembering recent events while readily recalling past events
- Finding it hard to follow conversations or programmes on the TV or radio
- Forgetting the names of friends or family or the words for everyday objects
- Repeating the same stories
- Losing the thread of a thought or a conversation
- Finding it difficult to think or reason through a situation
- Feeling anxious, depressed or angry about forgetfulness
- Comments from other people about your loved one’s memory problems
- Feeling confused, even in familiar environments and scenarios
- Increasing difficulty in reading, talking and writing
What makes the symptoms of dementia worse?
A lack of proper nutrition or not getting enough water can worsen the symptoms of dementia. If a person struggles to sleep, they may experience an increase in their symptoms. Strong emotions such as feeling lonely, bored or helpless can contribute to worsening symptoms as can consistent levels of high stress or fear.
Can you reduce dementia symptoms?
By addressing the triggers listed above as well as encouraging positive relation-ships and social interactions, it is possible to reduce the symptoms of dementia and improve the quality of life for your loved one. There are sensory activities focused on cognitive functions such as thinking, reasoning, perception and judgement, which can all be affected by dementia.
Our qualified Activity Co-ordinators deliver Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), a programme of themed activities that provides general stimulation for thinking, con-centration and memory. Each session covers a different topic, and the programme runs over several weeks in small groups or individually. CST is an evidenced ap-proach recommended in NICE Guidelines for the assessment, management and support of people living with dementia.
Dementia care at St Josephs rest home
We know that memory loss affects every resident differently, and our dementia care team values each individual and focuses on their abilities, preferences and needs.
We focus on understanding each resident to provide person-centred care, comfort and security in a familiar and enabling environment. Our teams use a strengths-based approach to enable each of our residents to live meaningful lives with pur-pose. Every resident will have their own Individual Activity Plan to ensure that the activities we offer meet their interest, abilities and needs.
And, because nutrition and hydration play such a vital part of a person’s wellbeing, our chefs are happy to prepare specialised meals to meet the dietary needs of our residents. We also offer family style dining to help residents engage in the meal-time experience, and our staff site at each table to dine and support social relation-ships. We also offer colour contrast tableware, and ensure there is stimulating mu-sic and aromas at mealtimes to deliver an Enriched Dining experience.