What is dementia?
Dementia is a degenerative and life-limiting disease that affects brain functioning leading to memory loss, language troubles (such as how to use words correctly or trouble speaking), the way you think, mood swings, difficulties with daily activities and more. However, everyone affected by dementia might experience different effects as everyone’s brain functioning and health condition are unique.
As this condition progresses, the person living with it will require more help and at some point, will be more dependent on their carers (family, support workers, etc.) to support them with daily living. Moreover, different types of dementia have different symptoms depending on disease-causing dementia and on which parts of the brain are affected.
Who is affected by dementia?
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK currently, around 944,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and the prognosis is that by 2025 the number will rise to over a million people as the longevity of life is rising.
Dementia affects people mainly above 65 years of age, however, it is not impossible to be affected by it at younger ages. This type of dementia is known as young-onset dementia and 1 in 20 people that have it is under 65. Different types of this brain disease are more common in some age groups than others. No matter when this life-limiting disease appears, our professional carers can help and support you or your loved ones to continue living your life to the fullest.
What types of dementia can be cared for at home?
We provide customer-specific at-home dementia care options to help you or your loved ones better manage day-to-day life and plan for the future. There are various types of Dementia, from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s, all with different symptoms, striking different people and all requiring varied dementia care services.
All types of dementia can develop behavioural patterns for customers that can be difficult for family members and friends to cope with – both physically and emotionally. Often, seeking the support of trained dementia carers is recommended to help relieve the pressure and stress. We provide dementia care at home for all types of dementia including:
- Alzheimer’s Disease: One of the most common types of dementia in the UK. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by proteins that are not formed properly, building up inside the brain causing nerve cells to stop working properly which leads to disruptions in brain functioning. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are memory loss, getting confused about time and place, difficult communication and expressions with the right words, difficulty with judging distances, etc.
- Vascular Dementia: Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s. It is a result of the limited blood supply in the brain causing problems with its normal functioning. There are 2 types of vascular dementia – stoke-related dementia and subcortical vascular dementia. The first one is a result of a large stroke or a series of small strokes whereas the second type is caused by a poor blood supply to the deep parts of the brain over a long period.
Vascular dementia is characterised by behavioural changes (anxiety, depression and irritation), getting confused for a short period and difficulties with planning, concentrating and quick thinking and memory loss.
- Lewy Body Dementia: Lewy body dementia (DLB) is caused by tiny proteins known as Lewy bodies that build up inside the nerve cells in the brain and eventually stop them work properly causing problems with movements and how the body works. The most common symptoms of Dementia with Lewy bodies include sleep problems, hallucinations and delusions, difficulty with planning, organising and attention span, memory problems and many more.
There is a close link between Lewy bodies dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Lewy bodies are often found in the brain of a person with Parkinson’s disease.
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal lobes of the brain that control a person’s behaviour, emotions and learning abilities, hence the name frontotemporal dementia. This type of dementia is more common in people between 45-65 years; however, it can affect other age groups.
- As frontotemporal dementia affects the behaviour centre in the brain, It is hard to be diagnosed as the symptoms might be mistaken for depression, anxiety, OCD or even psychosis.
- Mixed Dementia: As the name suggests mixed dementia includes more than one type of dementia, where the person with it is experiencing a mixture of symptoms each type may have. Most commonly a person with Alzheimer’s disease may have vascular dementia or a person with Lewy body dementia may have Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Note that some conditions may have symptoms similar to dementia, for example, memory loss or thinking. However, there could be an array of different reasons for these symptoms, such as depression, vitamin deficiencies, mild cognitive impairment or some other health conditions. If you notice that symptoms are starting to happen often and get worse, consult with your GP.
Types of dementia homecare - how we can support you
Our professional carers can make daily calls to provide help and support you or your loved one with personal care, ensuring that you maintain the standard of life you had before dementia, and maintaining your independence and dignity on a high level. As well as helping with personal care, we can assist with taking medications, as well as helping with shopping trips or other daily necessities.
Caring for someone with dementia can be exhausting and stressful for family members, and the thought of taking some time for yourself can be daunting. Our respite care services allow you to go on holiday, or take some time away from caring whilst knowing your loved one is in safe hands, and doesn’t have to go through the confusion that going into a care home could bring.
We know not everyone will live close to their family members – if you find that your loved one needs round-the-clock dementia care, live-in care is a perfect alternative to a specialist nursing home.
Living in the comfort of their own home allows your loved one to be in familiar surroundings, removing the stress and anxiety that can be brought by changing their environment. Continuing living at home keeps all established routines in check and makes it easier to be around family, friends and neighbours.
Talk to our live-in care team about 24 hour dementia care
