As part of the Brothers of Charity Services’ Health and Wellbeing Programme, Health BOCS we are raising the awareness of dementia and promoting Dementia Awareness Week 2015 – 17th – 23rd May.
Millions of people are fighting to raise awareness and understanding about dementia, and how we can better support and enable people to live well with this condition.
More information about Dementia Awareness Week can be found here.
The Alzheimer’s Society have lots of information about dementia on their website, ‘Five things you should know about dementia’ isparticularly interesting for anyone who would like to understand dementia more.
Five things you should know about dementia
Get the facts and dispel the myths about dementia. These five key facts are summarised below, or you can download a copy of the booklet for more comprehensive information.
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
It’s true that dementia is more common among over-65s, and some of us do become more forgetful as we get older or during times of stress or illness. But dementia is a different sort of forgetfulness. Your memory loss will be more noticeable, and may be accompanied by mood changes and confusion. It’s important to ask your GP to check out any unusual symptoms as these can sometimes be treated with appropriate medication.
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
Dementia is the name for a collection of symptoms that include memory loss, mood changes and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms are brought about by a number of diseases that cause changes in the brain. The most common of these is Alzheimer’s disease, which changes the chemistry and structure of the brain causing the brain cells to die. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia and Pick’s disease.
It’s not just about losing your memory
People often think of dementia as a form of memory loss. And usually it does start by affecting people’s short-term memory. But it’s more than that – it can also affect the way people think, speak, perceive things, feel and behave. Dementia makes it harder to communicate and do everyday things, but there is a lot that can be done to help. Every year we understand more about dementia, and develop new strategies that can help to boost someone’s confidence and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
It’s possible to live well with dementia
Most of us have an image in our mind of what life with dementia looks like. That image is often very bleak. So it can be very surprising to learn that many people with dementia continue to drive, socialise and hold down satisfying jobs. Even as dementia progresses, many people lead active, healthy lives, continue their hobbies, and enjoy loving friendships and relationships. Of course dementia does make it harder to do certain things, but with the right knowledge and support it is possible for someone with dementia to get the very best out of life.
There’s more to a person than the dementia
The inspirational people we work with are living proof that life doesn’t end when dementia begins. When someone is diagnosed, their plans for the future might change and they may need more help and support to keep doing the things they enjoy – but dementia doesn’t change who they are.
If you have any concerns or are worried about your memory, please contact the Alzheimer’s Society Helpline
