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Prevention and awareness of dementia
At present there’s no cure for dementia, but there are lots of things you can do to relieve symptoms, maintain the best possible health and educate yourself about the disease. In this way you can remain as independent as possible and enjoy life for a long time to come.
- Talking about the diagnosis
- Staying healthy
- Staying involved
- Living with Memory Loss Program (more information)
- Managing with memory loss
- Early warning signs
- Staying positive
Talking about the diagnosis
Anyone receiving a piece of news, whether good or bad, has to decide how they will share the information. In coming to terms with your diagnosis you may consider how you will raise the issue with family, friends and/or work colleagues, and wonder how people will respond after you’ve given them this news. It’s also worth keeping in mind that close family and friends may have already acknowledged that something is happening and will be able to help.
By discussing the diagnosis, you, your family and friends may be able to access community or medical resources early on to help you manage dementia and prevent deterioration. There is also the added advantage that by knowing your diagnosis you’ll be better prepared to plan ahead for your future.
Staying healthy
There are many ways you can stay active and continue the activities you’ve always enjoyed. You may wish to consider:
- regular exercise such as walking or gardening
- eating a balanced diet
- resting whenever you’re tired
- incorporating a regular relaxation program into your day
- limiting your alcohol intake
- ensuring that you take medication as prescribed (perhaps even organised into a pillbox)
- having regular health check ups, and
- staying active, even though you may have to modify activities to participate.
Staying involved
If the activities you once enjoyed are getting harder, you may like to try breaking these down into smaller parts. For example, if you’re having trouble preparing a meal, rather than stopping cooking you may wish to try doing parts of it, like peeling the vegetables or setting the table.
Also, many people find creative hobbies such as painting or sewing very enjoyable – and remember, if you’re having trouble with something you enjoy, try and simplify it. For example, if you used to enjoy knitting you may be able to continue your hobby with patterns that are less complex than the ones you’re used to.
It’s also important to maintain your social activities as well as any kind of spiritual activity that gives peace or meaning to your life, such as meditation, spending time with family or taking some time to appreciate nature or art.
The Alzheimer’s Australia Mind your Mind program has a range of useful information on how to modify your lifestyle to help reduce your risk of developing dementia.
More information about prevention of dementia can also be found in the Alzheimers’ Australia discussion paper, Dementia: can it be prevented, which you can download here. This paper examines the international and local evidence for the prevention of dementia and identifies factors that we may be able to control in our lives to reduce cognitive decline.
Living with Memory Loss program
This is a program run in each state and territory to help people living with early stage dementia, as well their family and friends. It takes place over 6-8 sessions and is usually held one day a week over a two-hour time slot.
The program gives you, your family and friends the chance to learn more about the condition, have your questions answered, talk confidentially with others in a similar situation, discuss experiences and express feelings in a safe environment.
For more information about the Living with Memory Loss program call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
Managing with memory loss
Here are some suggestions to help you manage memory loss:
- keep a diary or notebook with appointments, to-do lists, important phone numbers, names you need to remember, your address and a map showing where your home is, as well as a record of your daily activities and thoughts you’d like to hold on to
- try and establish a regular daily or weekly routine to reduce your dependence on memory
- put up a whiteboard to help you remember important things
- write telephone numbers in large print by the phone
- label cupboards and drawers with words or pictures to describe the contents
- keep a special place for important items such as glasses, your wallet and medications
- keep photos handy of people you see regularly and label them with their names and what they do
- mark days off the calendar to track time, and
- ask family and friends to ring before coming to visit as an extra reminder.
Early warning signs
The early signs of dementia are very subtle and may not be immediately obvious. Early symptoms also vary a great deal. Usually though, people first seem to notice that there is a problem with memory, particularly in remembering recent events.
- Memory loss that affects day-to-day function It's normal to occasionally forget appointments or a friend's phone number and remember them later. A person with dementia may forget things more often or not remember them at all.
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks People can get distracted from time to time and they may forget to serve part of a meal. In fact, a person with dementia may have trouble with all the steps involved in preparing a meal.
- Confusion about time and place It's normal to forget the day of the week – for a moment. But a person with dementia may have difficulty finding their way to a familiar place, or feel confused about where they are.
- Problems with language Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with dementia may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making sentences difficult to understand.
- Problems with abstract thinking Balancing a cheque-book can be difficult for anyone, but a person with dementia may have trouble knowing what the numbers mean.
- Poor or decreased judgment A person with dementia may have difficulty judging distance or direction when driving a car.
- Problems misplacing things Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with dementia may put things in inappropriate places.
- Changes in personality or behaviour Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with dementia can exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason. They can also become confused, suspicious or withdrawn.
- A loss of initiative It's normal to tire of some activities, but dementia may cause a person to lose interest in previously enjoyed activities.
If you have any of these symptoms contact your doctor, geriatrician or psychiatrist, who will take a detailed medical history and conduct a thorough range of physical, mental, neurological and neuropsychological tests to rule out any other similar medical conditions.
Read more: What is dementia?
Staying positive
If you’ve just been diagnosed with dementia it may come as a big shock. However, there are lots of things you can do to ensure that you remain as independent as possible. Here are some facts worth remembering:
- you’re still the same person
- the changes you’re experiencing are because of a condition of the brain
- you’ll have good days and bad days
- each person is affected differently and symptoms will vary
- you’re not alone. There are many people who understand you’re going through, and
- there are ways to cope better now and later on.
