Dementia Awareness Week

This week marks the start of Dementia Awareness Week (14th – 20th May 2017), and is a topic that is very close to our hearts. We wanted to share with you some of the signs to look out for in your loved ones, and ways in which you can support Alzheimer’s Society.

There is a common misunderstanding about the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia – the two are often used in conjunction with each other. Dementia is actually the umbrella term given to a group of symptoms that affect the brain. Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is a disease that destroys the brain.

Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms of Dementia to look out for in older relatives:

  1. Memory loss
  2. Communication problems
  3. Changes in mood

One of the hardest things about Dementia is that the disease is progressive, and worsens over time. It isn’t just about a lack of memory though, people suffering with this disease often struggle with familiar daily tasks such as following a recipe.

It isn’t all doom and gloom, people suffering from this disease are still able to live well, and enjoy their day-to-day life. They just need an extra helping hand and support carrying out their activities. Cognitive stimulation, such as puzzles and crosswords, are a great way to encourage sufferers to remain mentally active.

Dementia Care Mapping

This isn’t as scary as it sounds, we promise! Dementia care mapping is used by many care professionals, and it is simply the process of one or two trained members of staff sitting in areas such as a lounge, observing the behaviour of people with dementia throughout the day.

Waltham House care home are pleased to offer dementia care mapping, helping us to gain an understanding into the needs of our residents. We are then able to adapt our care routines to accommodate these behaviours.

Waltham House Supporting Dementia UK

Early this year in March, we took part in ‘Time for a Cuppa’ and managed to raise some money in aid of Dementia UK. We are always doing our bit to support the work of such vital charities. Let’s stand together and help find a cure for this debilitating illness.

For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or help you local Dementia community visit the Alzheimer’s society.