A Beginner’s guide to dementia
Dementia is probably the most difficult problem families face when caring for an older
relative
Most dementia cases are caused
by Alzheimer’s disease, but there are
other causes, including:

Vascular dementia.

Lewy body dementia (associated
with Parkinson’s disease)

Fronto-temporal dementia.
Many patients have a mixture
of Alzheimer’s and vascular pathology.
What are the signs of dementia?

The first thing you might notice is memory lapse.

An inability to name objects or people and perhaps the beginning of more difficulty with
everyday tasks like cooking and planning.

There may be incidents like losing the car in the car park, or failing to get off the bus at
the right stop.
What should you do if you think your loved one has memory lapses?

It is important to find out what is wrong and to get the right diagnosis .

Memory problems are sometimes associated with depression, which is easily treated, or
they may be worsened, or even caused by physical problems .

It is important to have a set of blood tests, including thyroid function tests and maybe an
ECG to check the heart.

These tests can be done by the person’s GP, but then they will also need a referral to the
local old age psychiatry service.

They will probably have some cognitive tests- these have a variety of names, but
commonly the Mini Mental State Examination is used and some more detailed tests as
well.

They will be offered a CT scan, or even an MRI scan, if it is felt to be necessary .
What should you do if your loved one is diagnosed with dementia?

Dementia is a frightening diagnosis for the patient and for those caring for them, so you
will need to learn about the illness and about the help that is available .

The Alzheimer’s Society www.alzheimerssociety.org.uk can be very helpful, but the old age
psychiatry service your ageing parent will see will also be able to give you information and
point you in the right direction.
Caring for someone with dementia is often very stressful
Living with and/or caring for someone with dementia can be very stressful. You can ask for
a carer’s assessment for yourself to make sure your needs are properly considered too .
You may find it very trying when your elderly
relative is very repetitive, or is always asking the
same questions. They may have odd ideas,
especially if they have lost something and feel
that it has been stolen or deliberately moved.
There is not much to be gained by arguing with
people in this state and it is sometimes easier for
both of you to accept some of what they say and
only correct them when it is really necessary.
As the illness progresses, patients need
increasing amounts of help, particularly with
personal care and they may become very upset and angry with the people trying to help . It
is important always to remember that the person living with dementia is very sensitive to
his or her environment and the way in which they are treated, so they should always be
offered an explanation of what is happening and be treated with gentleness and
consideration.
Residential care for dementia sufferers
Dementia is the main reason that people have to move into residential, or nursing care .
Although this is often very sad, they may find the routine of institutional care reassuring
and may benefit from having a larger
space to wander around. Carers often
feel very guilty as eventually cannot
manage and finally have to let their
loved one go into care, but sometimes it
simply isn’t possible to carry on at home.
The children of the person with
dementia often live far away and have to
try and organise the care from a
distance, which is also difficult. These
kind of problems can put great pressures
on families and can impact on many family relationships.
Dementia is increasingly common
Dementia is a very sad illness, which robs the patients of many of the pleasures of life
It is very common and will affect 1 in 5 of us who reach 80 years’ old . It is less common in
people under 80, but some people may start the illness in their 60s, or even earlier .
It is very important to get a diagnosis and to find your way through the various caring
agencies, including the NHS, social services, the voluntary and private sectors
It can also be very expensive to pay for care, which is only free once the person’s savings
are less than £23,000.
Early in the illness, people are able to give a Lasting Power of Attorney to ensure someone
they trust can look after their money and make decisions about their health and wellbeing
when they have lost the capacity to do so. It is important to get this organised and to
make sure that they make a will whilst they are able.
In spite of the misery of this illness, there can be moments of joy and even humour for
both sufferers and carers. It is often a long and difficult road, but meeting others in the
same situation and getting the help you need can make all the difference .
Next Steps

See the GP

Ask about memory services and care
options