Clifden House

it can be an overwhelming thought that one in 14 of over 65s will develop a form of dementia, though this isn’t an inevitable factor of age – so just how does it affect some of us but not others? This is a question to ponder as we think of the number of people in our families and social circles who have had some form of dementia.

dementia and you

Dementia doesn’t just affect the person; it effects the whole family. When both grandparents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease along with vascular dementia, we knew of one family who were suddenly left with two anxious apparent strangers who had to be monitored and looked after 24-hours a day to keep them safe. The grandfather was especially challenging and would leave the house in the early hours of the morning with his shopping bag full to the brim with all the cutlery in the house and would be found wandering, confused and cantankerous when approached. To this day they remember him wandering about in his pjs, slippers and their mother’s coat, hauling a bag of knives and forks, with no real idea why he did it. That’s the thing about dementia. It makes no real sense how it will affect the individual or how quickly it will take hold, until you’re left with a seeming shadow of the person you used to know. Yet, the individual does remain, and though it may require more effort to dig down to find the person you once knew, they are there and there are rich moments to be shared still with them.

Spotting the changes

One of the things this family’s grandfather would forget to do at the start, was pay his bills, or on the odd occasion he’d pay them twice. Their grandmother was much more progressive in her illness and after a series of strokes added to her already burgeoning Alzheimer’s, became bed ridden with vascular dementia and was no longer able to manage her affairs at all.

We are all able to look out for small changes in a people’s behaviour. An elderly friend who suddenly misses paying their rent for example, may be out of character and may respond to this differently than others.

Being dementia aware is something we should all be, particularly where we share living space with others or even just within our own family groups. Knowing the symptoms to look for and how to prepare for when there is a diagnosis will help us all prepare should things progress further.

Clifden House Dementia Care Centre has been delivering exceptional residential and respite care for 50 years. It aims to maximise each individual’s potential through choice, reducing the use of unnecessary medication and alleviating the symptoms of dementia in a caring and supportive environment.