Last week Grandma couldn’t remember your name. This week Grandma can’t remember her own name. Grandma is suffering from the advanced stages of dementia, a progressive neurological condition that will only get worse, there is no return of memory for the roughly 85,000 Queenslanders who suffer from it. Dementia doesn’t refer to just one specific disease, it is a general term applied to anyone whose ability to remember, think, or make decisions is impaired. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of dementia. People suffering from dementia are no longer able to engage in everyday activities, they are in a constant state of being lost in a prison of the mind as their memories slowly and permanently slip beyond their grasp. Their friends and relatives call it a thief in the night that steals their loved one away never to return, it is truly one of the most tragic conditions known to humanity. As of this writing, there is no cure, only care.
Although dementia is most commonly found in older adults, it is not considered to be a normal part of the ageing process. While dedicated family members usually attempt to keep their loved one who is suffering from dementia at home with them for as long as possible, despite the daily heartbreak of watching more and more pieces of their identity fall away as the condition relentlessly worsens, there comes a time when the effort to care for the increasingly unresponsive individual just becomes too much. It’s at that point that the always difficult decision to seek the help of dementia nursing homes becomes the best option for all involved, the patient and the exhausted family. The warm and welcoming staff of these excellent care facilities in Queensland can take the weight from your shoulders, and provide your loved one with special memory support techniques that allow their patients to enjoy their lives as much as possible despite their debilitating conditions.
When formerly healthy nerve cells (neurons) stop working in the brain, they lose their connections to other brain cells, and they die. While it’s normal for everyone to lose some neurons as they grow older, people suffering from dementia are subjected to a far more drastic loss. If you are concerned that a friend or loved one might be in danger of developing dementia, here are some of the signs and symptoms to watch for:
- Difficulties with listening comprehension and expressing themselves verbally
- Difficulties when reading and writing
- Memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion
- Trouble while paying bills and handling money responsibly
- Wandering away and getting lost in familiar places
- Repeating questions they have already asked
- Taking longer periods of time to complete normal daily tasks
- Losing interest in activities or events they once found engaging
- Hallucinating or experiencing paranoia and delusions
- Problems with movement and losing balance
Queensland Health has further information on dementia available from their website. We hope this article helps you have a better understanding of dementia and how to spot its signs. Although there is no cure, it can be slowed if caught early, if in doubt we urge you to seek the help of medical professionals immediately!
