Mild Dementia

Often this phase is only apparent in hindsight. At the time it may be missed or put down to 'old age', 'overwork', 'laziness', etc. The onset
of dementia is very gradual, and it is impossible to identify the exact time it begins. The person may:  appear to be apathetic and lacking in spontaneity; lose interest in hobbies, activities; be unwilling to try new  things; be  to adapt to change; show poor judgement and make poor  
decisions;  be slower to grasp complex ideas and take longer with routine jobs; blame others for 'stealing' mislaid items;  become more self-centered and less concerned  with others  and their feelings; become more forgetful  of details of recent events; be more likely to
repeat themselves or lose the thread of their  conversation; be more irritable or upset if they fail at something; have difficulty
handling money.  

Moderate Dementia 

Here the problems are more apparent and disabling. The person may: generally seem better, but some details may be forgotten or  confused; be confused regarding time and place, and time of day, for example they  may go out shopping at night; become lost if away
from familiar surroundings; forget names of friends or family, or confuse one family  member with another; forget saucepans, kettles;
may leave gas unlit; wander around streets, perhaps at night, sometimes becoming lost; behave inappropriately, for example going
outdoors in nightwear; see or hear things that are not there; become very repetitive; be neglectful of hygiene or eating  (perhaps saying
they have had a bath or meal when they have not); become angry, upset or distressed.  Severe Dementia Here the person is severely
disabled and needs a great deal of help. The person may: be unable to find their way around; be unable to remember for even a few
minutes what has just occurred; constantly repeat one or more phrases or sounds; be incontinent of urine and/or faeces;  show no
recognition of friends and relatives; need help or supervision with feeding, washing, bathing, using the toilet or dressing; take their
clothes off inappropriately; fail to recognise everyday objects;  have difficulty understanding what is said to them, and their speech
may make little sense; be disturbed at night; be restless, perhaps looking for a long dead relative or for a small child now grown up;  
be aggressive, especially when feeling threatened or closed in; have difficulty walking, eventually perhaps becoming confined to a
wheelchair or to a bed.   To find out more on Dementia, look in your local yellow pages or go on the Internet, you will find  any
information you need regarding Dementia.

  Severe

Caring for people with severe dementia is a very demanding and draining job. Naturally you want to continue to care for your loved one in
the home as long as possible. However, there comes a time when the demands grow and more help is required. There are no rules regarding when it is time to move your loved one into a community. It depends on their health and care needs. It also depends on YOUR health and needs. Also understand that you will no longer be able to care for your loved one if you become sick. Remember that making the decision to move your loved one is not a last resort, but can be a best resort.  

Light Drinking May Keep Dementia at Bay

People with mild cognitive impairment may slow their mental decline if they have up to one alcoholic drink a day, a new Italian study suggests.Researchers followed 121 people with mild cognitive impairment and looked at the impact of their drinking habits, to see if
moderate alcohol use might slow the progression to dementia. The participants were aged 65 to 84 at the study start and were followed
for three and a half years. 

Those who were cognitively impaired at the start of the study and had up to one alcoholic drink a day, typically wine, developed dementia
at a 85 percent slower rate than those with cognitive impairment who abstained, the researchers reported.The study results are
published in the May 22 issue of Neurology. 

Dr. Denis Evans, director of the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said that while the study
is interesting, its value is limited by the small number of participants. "That is not saying the study is worthless at all," he said, just that
more research needs to be done.

 

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This site updated
September 18th, 2007