Dementia Care
At SheffCare we offer a specialised dementia care service whether the dementia is in its early stages or is more advanced.
A diagnosis of any form of dementia may come as a shock, even though you may have suspected for a while that you or a member of your family have one of the related conditions. We encourage family members of people with dementia to get involved in the formulation of a personalised care plan for their loved ones. The key to our strategy is to focus on the person rather than the illness.
Our specialised dementia care homes offer a safe and secure environment. We staff the homes with a suitably qualified care team and use modern technology in order that all our residents can feel settled and aware of their surroundings. Cotleigh and Springwood both have specialist Dementia care. You may email Rod MacAskill, Cotleigh's Registered Manager at rod.macaskill@sheffcare.co.uk or Aniat Bland, Springwood's Registered Manager, at anita.bland@springwood@sheffcare.co.uk Alternatively, click on the home names above to find further information and contact details.
However, all our Registered Managers have experience in care of those with Dementia, so, if you prefer to look at another one of SheffCare's homes, talk with the relevant Manager and they will advise you as to what you or a loved one may need.
What is dementia?
Vascular dementia
Dementia with lewy bodies
Parkinson’s Disease
Fronto-temporal dementia
Living with dementia
The term dementia is used to describe the deterioration of brain function which affects concentration, memory and every-day skills and reasoning. There are over 100 different conditions that cause dementia, the most familiar being Alzheimer’s disease.
About 500,000 people in England have dementia and although it can occur at any age, it's more common in older people. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Dementia affects about one person in 20 over 65 and one person in three over 95.
Common symptoms
Dementia does affect individuals in different ways depending on the type and progression of condition from which they suffer. But the most common symptoms include:
* Memory loss, particularly short term memory. Early symptoms may be the misplacement of objects or forgetting what they have planned to do
* Poor concentration
* Searching for the right word to express themselves or forgetting completely
* Difficulty in learning new skills or thinking about new ideas
* Difficulty with day to day basic skills, e.g. forgetting how to lay a table
* Apparent mood swings, becoming irritable or aggressive, saying or doing inappropriate things
* In later stages may cause loss of speech or incontinence
However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean dementia. They may be caused by diabetes; depression; vitamin deficiency, stress or many other illnesses. If you or a relative have suffered some of these symptoms it is important that you see your doctor so that they can make anaccurate diagnosis.
Dementia is a progressive condition, which means it slowly gets worse over time. However, the younger the person, often the faster the condition can advance with symptoms appearing over a shorter space of time. Dementia affects not only the person with the condition, but their families. There are currently no cures for dementia. However, some people respond to drugs and other treatments lessening the symptoms.
Types of dementia
The most common conditions which cause dementia are:
* Alzheimer’s disease
* vascular dementia
* dementia with lewy bodies
* parkinson’s disease
* fronto-temporal dementia
Alzheimer’s disease may not always be obvious in the early stages of the disease. Depending on a range of factors, it usually develops gradually and symptoms are often missed.
Early signs and symptoms include:
* change of behave
* Regularly misplacing items or putting them in odd places
* Regularly forgetting recent events, names and faces
* Confusion about the time of day
* Reduced judgement, for example unaware of danger
* Failing to recognise familiar objects or places
* Problems finding the right words
* Lack of care with personal hygiene
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, people may experience:
* Further decline in mental abilities and memory
* Lack of awareness of their surroundings
* Personality changes
* Loss of control of bodily functions
* Inability to perform daily activities
For further advice and help talk with our specialist dementia Registered Managers Anita Bland or Rod MacAskill or any other of our Registered Managers.
Vascular Dementia (VS)
The early symptoms of VS are similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease. Although it affects some areas of the brain more than others, such as the area connected with speech. A stroke may bring on the symptoms of VS.
Symptoms of vascular dementia include:
* Slurred speech.
* Dizziness
* Memory loss
* Moving with rapid, shuffling steps
* Loss of bladder or bowel control.
* Weakness in the arms and/or legs
Behavioural signs and symptoms include:
* Language problems
* Wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings
* Lack of concentration
* Laughing or crying inappropriately
* Difficulty following instructions
* Problems handling money
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Like Alzheimer’s disease, DLB is a progressive condition and gets worse over time.
Symptoms can include:
* Shaking or stiffness; DLB is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease in the first instance
* Confusion and delirium that can vary daily
* Memory loss and problems in communicating
* Severe psychotic episodes, such as persistent hallucinations that do not improve after use of anti-psychotic medicines
Parkinson’s Disease
As with other forms of dementia symptoms appear gradually. The signs and severity of this form of dementia can vary during the day in people and on the tiredness of the sufferer.
Symptoms may include:
* Lethargy
* Apparent slowness of thought
* Forgetfulness
* Inability to control emotions, eruptions of sudden anger and distress
* Inability to make decisions, plan, reason or cope with new things
* Visual hallucinations
Fronto-temporal Dementia
The signs and symptoms of fronto-temporal dementia develop slowly and are very often not recognised as a condition but put down to general behaviour of those growing old.
Symptoms include:
* A change in the persons personality or behaviour that are out of character (these symptoms usually exhibit first)
* Apathy or withdrawal from social activities
* The development of fixed routines, obsessive behaviour or hoarding
* Loss of inhibitions, leading to rudeness, impatience or aggression
* Excessive financial spending
* Problems in organising thoughts and concentration, though scores may be normal on memory tests
* Changes in sexual behaviour, for example, lack of or more interest in, or inappropriate interest
* Being easily distracted
* A sweet tooth with or without overeating and weight gain
* Preference for unusual foods or alcohol
* Reduced speech or repetitive speech
Living with dementia
It is important for those with dementia that they try and remain as independent as possible for as long as is possible. The progression of the condition will depend on a range of factors including the type of dementia and the health and personality of the person with the condition.
It is important that the person with dementia endeavours to stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health. People living supported independent lives can live longer, suffer less pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue and generally enjoy a better quality of life for longer. As the condition progresses the person with dementia will need more support and is likely, eventually, to need residential care.
It is natural to feel worried, but you are not alone, talk with your G.P. or alternatively, one of our dedicated Registered Managers, Rod MacAskill or Anita Bland, for advice; you are under no obligation and make no commitment if you just need someone to talk to who understands.