It’s Dementia Action Week, from today, Monday 15, to Sunday 21 May, and this year the awareness raising event is focused on increasing diagnosis rates.
As well as the misconception around memory loss just being part of getting old, research by Alzheimer’s Society found denial and referral times are barriers to why those experiencing symptoms don’t seek a diagnosis.
The charity are working to address these barriers and have an online checklist for possible dementia symptoms here; https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms-checklist
If you are worried that you, or a loved one, may be experiencing signs of dementia you can use this checklist to help describe your symptoms to a GP or other health professional.
Throughout this week our Dementia Care team will have two stands – one outside our Chapel and the other in the Louise Hamilton Centre, on our hospital site, where you can pick up more information. You are welcome to visit either during the week.
It’s Dementia Action Week and we’re working to raise awareness and to highlight the work of our Dementia Care team.
The team work closely with Sue Francis from the Louise Hamilton Centre to support families who have concerns about loved ones with dementia.
In January 2018, it was recognised there was a need for an additional support group for people living with an Early Onset Dementia diagnosis in the community.
Our team held the first Forum in the Louise Hamilton Centre to get feedback and have progressed with the young onset dementia support group from there. It is a peer support group and has continued to be well attended with regular visitors every month.
Although the Centre was not fully open for support groups throughout Covid, the team still maintained support via telephone until the group was able to meet again for face to face meetings.
Last year, to mark the week, forget-me-nots were planted in the Louise Hamilton Centre garden in recognition of people living with dementia. This year they are continuing to flourish for visitors to the centre to enjoy.
The Early Onset Dementia Group meet the last Wednesday of every month in the Louise Hamilton Centre from 10.30am to 12noon.
For more information please contact Sue Francis, pictured here with Dementia Care lead Ali Thayne, on 01493 453100 or our Dementia Care team on 01493 453735.
In Dementia Action Week we’re working to raise awareness and to highlight the work of our Dementia Care team.
This year the awareness raising event is focused on increasing diagnosis rates and tackling the misconception that memory loss is just part of getting old.
Our team are encouraging everyone to recognise dementia symptoms, how they can progress and how you can discuss these with your GP.
Early stages;
- Memory Loss: for example, problems recalling things that happened recently
- Difficulty concentrating, planning or organising: for example, struggling to make decisions, solve problems or follow a series of steps (such as cooking a meal)
- Problems with language and communication: for example, difficulties following a conversation or finding the right word for something
- Misunderstanding what is being seen: for example, problems judging distances (such as on stairs) or perceiving the edges of objects, and misinterpreting patterns or reflections
- Being confused about time or place: for example, losing track of the time or date, or becoming confused about where they are
- Mood changes or difficulty controlling emotions: for example becoming unusually anxious, irritable, sad or frightened, losing interest in things and personality changes.
Symptoms as dementia progresses;
- Aggressive behaviour – as a person’s dementia progresses, they may sometimes behave in ways that are physically or verbally aggressive
- Walking about - walking repeatedly around at home or leaving the house during the day or night
- Lack of insight - when a person with dementia is unable to recognise changes in their behaviour and emotions
- Sleep problems - As well as disruption to their body clock, a person with dementia may sleep more in the day and have difficulty sleeping at night
- Delusions – strongly believing something that is false.
The Alzheimer’s Society have created an online checklist for possible dementia symptoms here; https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms-checklist
If you are worried that you, or a loved one, may be experiencing signs of dementia you can use this checklist to help describe your symptoms to a GP or other health professional.
Throughout this week our Dementia Care team have two stands – one outside our hospital Chapel and the other in the Louise Hamilton Centre, on our hospital site, where you can pick up more information. Our photo shows Kim from the team with the stand outside the Chapel.
