Dementia Awareness

Understand what dementia is.

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The definition of the term dementia may include:

• decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life
• that it is not a specific disease
• it is an overall term for a decline of memory or other thinking skills
• Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are most common types
• Other types include fronto-temporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies

Key functions of brain affected by dementia may include:

• damage to brain cells so brain cells can no longer communicate with each other
• when cells in a particular region are damaged that region cannot carry out its functions normally e.g. memory, judgement, movement

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:-

memory problems – such as forgetting recent events

asking questions repeatedly

becoming confused in unfamiliar environments

difficulty finding the right words

difficulty with numbers and/or handling money in shops

becoming withdrawn and anxious.

Vascular dementia is similar to Alzheimers although memory loss may not be as evident.

Symptoms can suddenly develop and include:

• stroke-like symptoms
• movement problems
• thinking problems (attention, planning and reasoning)
• mood changes – becoming more emotional.

Early signs of dementia include:

• memory problems especially short-term
• decline in communication – struggling to follow or join a conversation
• recognition and coordination difficulties
• disorientation
• changes of behaviour, judgement or mood
• loss of daily life skills.

Conditions with similar symptoms - 

Dementia like symptoms can be caused by other conditions. Depression, nutritional deficiencies, side effects from medication and emotional distress can be mistaken for dementia.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’.

• 1.2

  Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia.

• 1.3

  Describe the early sign signs of dementia. 

• 1.4

  Explain why depression, delirium and age-related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia.

Understand the different ways of viewing dementia.

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Key features of the medical model and social model of dementia may include:

a) medical - clinical approach

b) social - about the person and how it affects them as an individual

Reasons why dementia should be viewed as a disability may include:

• people with learning disabilities and in particular Down's Syndrome are at greater risk of developing dementia
• similar symptoms between those with disabilities and dementia e.g. memory loss, difficulty with thought processes, problem solving or language. Other common symptoms include mood or behaviour changes.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Outline the medical model of dementia.

• 2.2

  Outline the social model of dementia.

• 2.3

  Explain why dementia should be viewed as a disability.

Know the most common causes of dementia.

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Common types of dementia may include:

Cause of Dementia

Damage to brain cells caused by abnormal proteins in Alzheimer’s disease

In Vascular dementia the oxygen supply to the brain is reduced due to narrowing or blockage of blood vessels. This can be following a stroke or from a disease affecting the small blood vessels in the brain (subcortical vascular dementia).

Frontotemporal Dementia – clumps of abnormal proteins affect the front and side parts of the brain causing cells to die

Dementia with lewy bodies involves tiny abnormal structures forming inside the brain (Lewy bodies) this leads to death of brain cells

Risk factors may include:

• age related - increases significantly 65+
• genetics
• lifestyle e.g. higher blood pressure in mid-life/ smoking, type 2 diabetes
• Learning disability

Prevalence rates may include:

• An 80 year old is more at risk of developing dementia than a 30 year old
• Rare to get dementia before 65
• After the age of 65 the risk of developing Alzheimer doubles approximately every 5 years
• Dementia affects approximately 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 6 over the age of 80

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Describe the most common causes of dementia.

• 3.2

  Outline the risk factors for the most common causes of dementia.

  
  
• 3.3

  Identify prevalence rates for different types of dementia.

Understand how individuals experience dementia.

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Living with dementia may include:

• ability to maintain independence as long as possible
• need to access services on a day-to-day basis
• as a person gets older physical deterioration and dementia may necessitate other forms of support
• increased levels of confusion and concerns for safety.

Impact of other people's attitudes and behaviour may result in:

• depression
• isolation as the person does not want to go out
• people become more supportive and caring following the diagnosis.

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Describe how different individuals may experience living with dementia depending on age, type of dementia, and level of ability and disability.

• 4.2

  Outline the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with dementia.

Know how to support people with dementia.

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Learners should have a basic understanding of the Mental Capacity Act: where an individual has capacity to make decisions for themselves they have the right to do so, even if others perceive their decisions as ‘bad ones’. People with dementia should be supported to make their own decisions as far as possible.

Learners should understand how to help people make their own decisions by

• Being person centred: this could be practical in making sure aids (hearing and sight) are working properly and used.
• Explaining things in a way that is easy to understand. using pictures to help someone choose.
• Choosing the best time of day to talk about decisions.
• By using an interpreter or involving a person with more detailed understanding of their communication methods, if needed.

If a carer believes a person lacks capacity or is making a decision that will cause themselves or others harm, they should raise concerns with senior staff. They should not deny the service user their rights if they have capacity.

Examples of a Dementia friendly environment could include:

• clear lay out of kitchen and dining areas
• using labels or pictures or even take doors off kitchen cupboards
• clear glass jars will allow the person to identify foodstuffs more easily
• making dining areas attractive
• having contrasting colours for cutlery, crockery, tablecloths
• ceramic heavy mugs or cups are better than plastic
• using upright chairs
• bedrooms - painting doors with contrasting colours, personalising their door 
• make the bed visible, with contrasting bed linen
• having the right kind of bed to aid sleep
• avoiding mirrors
• having good lighting throughout
• managing noise
• using assistive technology.

Assessment Criteria

• 5.1

  Describe how to support people with dementia to make their own decisions.

• 5.2

  Give examples of how to make an environment more dementia-friendly.