Understanding Dementia

Neha Sinha, a clinical psychologist by training shares her views on caregiving in Dementia, the effects of longtime caregiving on a person, how to keep his balance in tact and also avoid an early burnout.  ‘Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible’ ~ Tia Walker Caregiving in Dementia Caring for people with dementia is in many ways more challenging than looking after somebody with a physical condition. This is because when you look after someone with dementia…

Neha Sinha, a clinical psychologist by training and dementia specialist, is the co-founder and CEO of Epoch Eldercare.  She shares her knowledge on agitiation in Dementia, the triggers of agitation and how best to handle it. What is Dementia in everyday life? Visualise a situation where you suddenly open your eyes and can’t make any sense of where you are or what you are doing there? Your surroundings seem unfamiliar to you...and there is a person in your room, giving you all sorts of…

The Rhythm Wellness initiative of Global ArtsCare in Singapore conducts group drumming session for the elderly to reduce loneliness, increase energy levels and morale and provide recreational and wellness activities. Tell us about Global ArtsCare and the work it does? At GlobalArtsCare we aim to transform lives-in-care through creative arts engagement. Our activities aim to make creative arts engagement accessible to as many people in care facilities. In the process, residents, care-givers, and…

The Dementia Friends Program of SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation) is a unique initiative aimed to create dementia friendly community in Chennai. Hear from the young volunteers themselves how it not only helps engage persons with dementia but also makes the youth aware and empathetic. Around 4.5 million people in India are suffering from dementia and the figure is likely to double by 2030, according to health experts. Despite the large numbers, only 1 out of 10 people with dementia in…

Vishaal Nityanand, a young filmmaker, ploughed his own money and full commitment to make Life Flows On, a movie on people with dementia and their caregivers, in order to raise awareness and understanding about the condition that he feels is callously neglected and overlooked in India. Read his interview. You have written and directed the film ‘Life Flows On’ that is dedicated to people with dementia and caregivers. Could you tell us a little about it? Life Flows On deals with three dementia…

The best way to help a person with dementia is to ensure that they maintain control over as many areas of their life as possible and encourage them to maximise their remaining abilities, recommends Amrita Patil–Pimpale, a dementia care consultant. During my recent home visit to Mr. Dsouza (name changed) who is living with Dementia, I noticed a bottle of floor cleaner kept on his dining table. Usually this isn’t matter of concern. However in Mr. Dsouza’s case, he is in mid-stage of dementia, has…

Dr (Prof) Nandi, 83 is a full time caregiver for his wife, Dr Gita Nandi, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He shares his experience of a caregiver in this personal account. My wife is a doctor herself and she has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for the last six and a half years. The first symptoms were that she started having breathing trouble. I admitted her to the Railway Hospital. She used to be a senior doctor with the Railways and we also used to live in the Railway quarters in…

There are a lot of things you can do especially in the early to middle stages to manage and delay the progression of dementia. Read on to find out more: Staying Active Finding activities that the person with AD can do and is interested in can be a challenge. Building on current skills generally works better than trying to teach something new.  Don't expect too much. Simple activities are best, especially when they use current abilities. Help the person get started on an activity. Break…

Sometimes the Daily activties like Bathing, Dressing and Eating can be a huge challenge for caregivers looking after a person with dementia. Here are a few useful tips. Let us know which one you find helpful. Tips for Bathing For some people bath time can be a frightening, confusing experience.  Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow…

The world of medicine is beginning to increasingly acknowledge the potential of expressive arts therapies such as art, music, drama, dance/movement, poetry/creative writing and play in the context of healing, treatment, psychotherapy, counselling and rehabilitation. Activities such as drawing, drumming, creative movement and play acting allow individuals of all ages to express deep-seated thoughts and feelings, improve physical, mental and emotional well-being and boost self-esteem and…