Watching a loved one struggle with dementia can be really difficult, as it often feels like there's nothing you can do to help.
It's estimated that around 900,000 people in the UK are currently living with the condition, which often progresses slowly and doesn't have a cure.
But it's crucial to be vigilant and watch out for symptoms in others, because the quicker it's detected, the better the care options are and more can be done to improve their quality of life.
Wales Online reports that there are several different types of dementia, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with this year.
There's also Alzheimer's, which affects memory skills and mental abilities, and vascular dementia, a reduction in blood flow to the brain which causes slowness of thought and disorientation.
But FTD is a much less common type of dementia which also causes problems with behaviours and language, and typically is diagnosed in people from the age of 45 and up. FTD is a slow and progressive disease and is sometimes initially misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s or aphasia.
It’s possible for someone to have more than one type of dementia, and symptoms can also overlap. Stewart Mcginn, managing director at Baycroft Care Homes, had identified some of the signs to look out for in your loved ones and the next steps to take in order to provide them with the correct help that they need.
Continuously misplacing things
“Anyone can forget where they put their keys on the odd occasion, but if your loved one finds they are regularly misplacing items, it could be an early sign of dementia. For example, this could be continuously losing their glasses or finding items in strange places, like a TV remote in the fridge or food items in with the cleaning products.“
Difficulty focusing
“Those suffering from early dementia can often struggle to concentrate or focus on tasks that require organisation and planning. That’s because Alzheimer’s disease, which causes dementia, affects the hippocampus, which controls new learning and memories. With this being disrupted, it can be much harder to concentrate.”
Problems with language
“A sign that can indicate a person is suffering from dementia is having difficulty forming sentences or finding the right words during conversations. Whilst everyone can forget the odd word from time to time, regularly struggling to remember words or substituting them in sentences with random words can indicate someone is suffering.”
Memory loss
“One of the most noticeable and alarming signs that your loved one could be showing early signs of dementia is recurring memory loss.
“In particular, less significant pieces of information - that are also perhaps harder to spot - could be early warning signs that your loved one may have dementia. For example, re-reading the newspaper, re-telling stories, or forgetting an acquaintance's name. If you do start to notice any patterns, Whether your loved one is frequently forgetting the names of people they know, or is unable to recall recent events or new information learned, it’s best to get them checked out by a doctor.”
Changes in mood
“Frequent mood swings can be another indication that your loved one has early signs of dementia as they begin to get frustrated with themselves, sometimes without obvious cause or reason. This can be a person’s mood quickly changing from calm to angry or emotional without reason, or if they become generally more withdrawn or anxious.”
Finding it hard to carry out regular daily tasks
“If you’ve noticed that your family member has recently started finding it hard to carry out regular daily tasks, like forgetting how to cook their favourite recipe that they have made countless times, or struggling to count their money in a supermarket - these could all be signs of dementia.”
How to support a loved one with dementia
Stewart says the first step is getting an official diagnosis from a doctor, which then may lead to a referral to a specialist.
People might struggle to come to terms with their diagnosis so it's vital that they know where to turn for support. Charities such as Alzheimer's Society and Dementia UK are there to give advice to people with the condition as well as their families.
If your loved one can't cope at home on their own and needs to move into a care home, it's important to choose one that everybody is happy with in terms of levels of care.
Stewart added: “A high-quality and carefully selected care home can not only provide a safe environment with trained carers on hand for someone living with dementia, but it can also provide many home comforts that make your loved one feel at ease during this difficult time."
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