Understanding dementia in awareness month

September is Dementia Awareness Month in Australia, with a special action week taking place from 19 to 25 September.

According to Dementia Australia, the condition affects nearly half a million Australians while nearly 1.6 million people are involved in their care.

What’s more, the number of people who are living with dementia is expected to double within the next 25 years.

That’s why dementia awareness is so important. In this article, we help you to understand more about this condition and what simple steps you can take to help loved ones who are affected.

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a disease in itself but a term that describes a range of symptoms caused by brain disorders.

It refers to the loss of brain function in terms of thinking, reasoning and remembering to the extent that it impacts on a person’s everyday life and activities.

People will experience dementia in different ways, and there are several different forms. One of the most common is Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative illness that causes brain cells to die and the brain to shrink.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty planning, reasoning and making decisions
• Disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
• Difficulty with speech and language
• Difficulty with everyday tasks and self-care
• Changes in mood and personality — for example, the onset of aggressive or suspicious behaviour
• Withdrawing from socialising
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and/or delusions (believing things that aren’t true)

Who does it affect?

Scientists don’t yet fully understand the causes of dementia. But you may be at increased risk if:

• You are older — one in 10 people over 65 and three in 10 people over the age of 85 are affected by dementia.
• You have lower levels of education.
• You have hearing loss.
• You have untreated depression.
• You are lonely or isolated.
• You sit for most of the day.
• In rare cases, your genes may play a part in your risk of getting dementia.

How can I help a loved one affected by dementia?

The theme for the action week taking place as part of Dementia Awareness Month 2022 is ‘A little support makes a big difference’. It’s about understanding that people can live with dementia for many years and that they should be supported to lead as full a life as possible.

It’s also about supporting the carers, friends and family of people with dementia and helping healthcare providers to make their practice more dementia-aware.

Let’s look at some simple tips you can try to help a loved one living with dementia.

Get them a medical alert

Encourage them to wear a dementia alert medical ID. This shows that the wearer is living with dementia and includes a space to write on extra information and a link to an emergency profile search to allow access to more details. It means that caregivers can give the appropriate treatment in an emergency situation or if the wearer is unable to communicate for themselves.

If your loved one has sensory issues, then a silicone medic alert is a great choice as it’s hypoallergenic, comfortable and safe.

You may also like to consider a medical emergency wallet card, which gives you the space to write on details about your loved one’s condition and contact numbers in case of emergency.

Encourage them to stay fit and active

You can encourage your loved one with dementia to stay fit and active to help them feel connected and keep healthy.

You can do this by acting as their “exercise buddy” to motivate them with physical activity.

Share healthy recipes with them or cook together to ensure that they get the nutrition they need.

Help them keep their mind active by encouraging activities like puzzles, crosswords or sudoku.

Make sure they keep their regular appointments with healthcare providers and get any new symptoms checked out.

Explore the world of tech

With today’s technological advances, there are lots of gadgets that can help your loved one to live better with dementia.

They may enjoy looking through digital photo books to stimulate their memories and give them something to talk about.

Wireless item locators will help your loved one find misplaced keys or other objects if they are struggling with their memory.

Medication reminder devices or alarms set on a phone will help them take their medication at the right time every day.

Make a few small changes

Dementia is challenging for patients, carers and loved ones. But everyday life can be made easier by making a few small changes.

One of the simplest of these is choosing med alerts or IDs for your loved one. Medical alert bracelets are an affordable and easy way to ensure that your family member or friend will be cared for appropriately in an emergency. Or if they have a tendency to get lost, it will give them — and you — the reassurance that their loved ones can be contacted.

Check out our selection of medical ID bracelets, necklaces and wallet cards as the first small step to a more independent and worry-free life for your loved one with dementia.