health & wellbeing


Coping with...


Two of the biggest health concerns as


we get older are dementia and strokes, but what exactly are their effects?


T


he term ‘dementia’ is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specifi c diseases and conditions.


There are more than 100 different types of dementia and while it’s common knowledge that dementia mainly affects people over the age of 65 – and the likelihood increases with age – it can, however, affect younger people, and there are more than 17,000 people in the UK under the age of 65 living with dementia. If you, or a friend or relative, have been diagnosed with dementia, you may be feeling anxious or confused. You may not know what dementia is. It is a progressive illness, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. How fast dementia progresses will depend on the individual and what type of dementia they have. The symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases, including Alzheimer’s and damage caused by a series of small strokes.


Symptoms of dementia may include: • Loss of memory − this particularly affects short-term memory, for example forgetting what happened earlier in the day, not being able to recall conversations or forgetting the way home from the shops. Long-term memory is usually still quite good. • Mood changes − people with dementia may be withdrawn, sad, frightened or angry about what is happening to them. • Communication problems − including problems fi nding the right words for things. • In the later stages of dementia, the person affected will have problems carrying out


Planning For Later Life Magazine


everyday tasks and will become increasingly dependent on other people/carers.


Individual care


If it comes to the stage when your dementia means you need to move into a care home, it is important to be treated as an individual and that the surroundings and facilities are right for you. There has been a considerable amount of research into the benefi ts of life history work and how it can enrich the life of those living with a dementia-related condition. When a resident enters a care home it


is vital for staff to get to know the person, their likes, dislikes, and learn about their background, life story and experiences they have had. It is important for staff to talk with the resident and their family, to build a picture and document this for the care team to share. Memories for someone coping with


dementia are a crucial part of them retaining their sense of identity – when memory loss can have such a devastating effect. Old skills and abilities can be drawn upon – whether it is painting, gardening or playing a musical instrument that they still love. Through life history work you can discover hidden talents and use them as part of the activity provision; allowing the resident to focus for a moment on a pastime they love rather than asking them to participate in an activity that is organised merely for entertainment purposes. Why watch television if you long to play dominoes, tend your own vegetable garden or play the piano?


When stroke strikes


Stoke is the umbrella term for a clot or bleed in the brain and the condition is the nation’s third biggest killer. It changes lives and can have a huge effect on you and your family. While the majority of those affected are older, a quarter are aged under 65. So what actually is a stroke, what


are the signs and the symptoms? For your brain to function, it needs a constant blood supply, which provides vital nutrients and oxygen to the brain cells. Strokes, often referred to as “brain attacks”, occur when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and the brain is starved. This happens because there’s either a blood clot or bleed in the brain. The Stroke Association says around 80% of strokes are caused by clots, often linked to a build-up of fat in the arteries which can lead to clots travelling to the brain. Strokes are sudden, have an


immediate effect and affect people in different ways. A person may become numb, weak or paralysed on one side of the body. They may slur their speech and fi nd it diffi cult to fi nd words. Some people lose their sight or have blurred vision, and others become confused or unsteady. About a third of people who have a stroke make a signifi cant recovery within a month. But most stroke survivors will have long-term problems. • For more information, visit www. stroke.org.uk or call 0303 3033 100.


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