Caring for someone with Dementia

Carol D’Souza, a consulting psychologist, recounts her mother’s advancing dementia and how she and her family made peace with the agonizing decision to put her in a care home. Putting my mother in a Home was one of the most difficult decisions made by my family and me. Onset of dementia seemed so sudden for her; it started with bizarre behavior of her staying awake all night – worrying about all sorts of things she absolutely did not need to.  Her life had turned into a…

With a palliative care policy formulated in 2008, Kerala has become a path-breaker and a model for the rest of the country. Professor Devi Vijay of IIM Calcutta provides some insights into this community-based aspect of health care.  1. What can the rest of the country learn from the success of the Kerala palliative care story?How can other countries and communities leverage this community-based model?  There are several elements of the Kerala palliative care movement worth examining…

Talk to your loved one with dementia; talk to others in your shoes, says Melissa Chan, founder of Project We Forgot, which supports caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please share your encounter with Alzheimer’s Disease.  I was about 14 when my dad was diagnosed at age 53. Initially, we were confused because his family had no history of the disease but later the doctors pinned it down to the late-onset of effects caused by a car accident he had…

Families often find themselves at wit’s end looking after a loved one with dementia. Porrselvi A.P., a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, offers a case study that shows that caregiving challenges can be overcome with the right strategies.  We received a call from a very disturbed Mr. K, who was trying to find a dementia care home for his aged father, Mr. S., aged 73. Mr. K was distressed because he had never thought there would come a day when he would have to seek…

Disasters such as floods have an even worse impact on people with dementia. Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran explains what precautions and coping measures can be taken A disaster is defined as an unexpected event that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary). During a disaster, routine life is affected to a significant extent. Individual lives are under threat and the immediate focus is on protecting lives. The capacity of organisations that generally manage…

A excellent video in Hindi from the UK.  Covers the following aspects: What is Dementia Types of Dementia - Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, etc.. Difference between Dementia and Ageing Medication and treatment  Management of Dementia Importance of a support network so you realise you are not alone Advise to caregivers and carers: Share your worries and concerns with friends and family members Join support groups Involve the family, even children Use care services whenever…

Can healthy eating, regular exercise and maintaining healthy weight prevent dementia? Find out what you can do to prevent dementia [INFOGRAPHIC]. Related reading here

Misconceptions, early warning signs and the latest reseach that offers hope… PatientsEngage interviews Dr.Jacob Roy Kuriakose, Vice President, Alzheimer’s Disease International on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Month. 62% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries. Why is this? Is it due to lifestyle, diet or lack of awareness? What can be done to lower the numbers?  With increasing life expectancy, number of people with dementia is going up.  …

Managing the condition Dementia generally gets worse with age but the development of symptoms can often be slowed with drugs or other treatments. Treatment of dementia usually aims to improve memory and concentration, reduce psychiatric problems, and improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Read here for various treatment options: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/dementia/treatments Improving quality of life: There are several psychological techniques to…

Dementia generally gets worse with age but the development of symptoms can often be slowed with drugs or other treatments. Treatment of dementia usually aims to improve memory and concentration, reduce psychiatric problems, and improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Improving memory and concentration: The memory difficulties seen in Alzheimer's disease can be relieved for a short time in some people with drugs that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain…