Dementia - What is it and what does it do?

Just recently my grandad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It had me looking into the conditions as I, like many others, never really understood it. For example, did you know that the term dementia is not a condition, but a general term for specific conditions such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, the most common types. Also, not only does it affect the memory, it can affect speech, thought process, feelings and emotions, and general behaviour.

The NHS online website describes dementia as, '...a syndrome (a group of syndromes) associated with an ongoing decline of brain function'. Symptoms include, memory loss, speaking difficulties, thinking speed, mental sharpness and more. People who suffer from it can lose interest in their usual activities and can struggle to control their behaviour and emotions. More than 850,000 people in the UK suffer from some form of dementia, with the number expected to rise to 1 million by 2025. 1 in 14 over 65s suffer, with 1 in 6 over 80s dealing with dementia.

It started with my grandad back in October 2020. We had noticed his memory wasn't what it used to be long before this but put it down to old age. I was doing his shopping for him through the pandemic, due to the isolation rules, so I would call him on a Friday for his shopping list to do on Saturday. One Friday I made the call and there was no answer. So, after many times of trying, I went round to find he had fallen on the floor and was talking of a decorator on his way round (the same decorator who last did his house in the 80s!). At first we thought it was a bang to the head or an infection. We were soon to discover, after many hospital trips, infection treatments and nurse visits later, that he was suffering from vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

His life, and ours, changed a lot in the weeks and months to come. He now receives care at home 4 times a day, can't go upstairs due to his inability to walk and sleeps on a hospital style bed in his front room. It's difficult to watch a man who, for my entire life (or at least what I can remember of it), has always been so independent and active, to being reliant on pretty much everyone around him. However, that's what dementia can do.

So what can be done to help?

Well, actually there are a lot of aspects to life that can help slow the process.

Firstly, like many conditions involving the brain, talking about it freely and being honest with people can really help. Letting people know what you're dealing with, and what you struggle with, helps others to understand what you're going through and helps them help you.

Secondly, general health and wellbeing. The same as you would normally do, eat well, drink well, exercise and good amounts of sleep. Anything that is good for your mind, is good for your dementia. As the disease progresses, your appetite may drop or change. At this point it's good to consider supplements to ensure you're getting all the goodness your body needs.

Lastly, a few routines to keep things simple. The most well known symptom for dementia sufferers is memory loss. So keeping things routine will help massively. Things like creating a weekly timetable, using pill organisers, leaving keys in the same place, like a bowl or a key hook, all ways of making life easier to remember.

It's good to remember that although they may be different, it's still the same person in there, so treat them like it. Days out and social events will still make them happy. They will more than likely still enjoy the same music, the same tele shows, and a bit of fresh air never hurt anyone so get them out of the house as much as you can. There's plenty of charities dedicated to dementia (Dementia UK, Alzheimer's Society), so if you do feel like you are struggling or need help or advice, give them a look up online or call and you'll find it full of facts and tips.