During Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week, people are encouraged to recognise the symptoms of dementia and take action to get a proper diagnosis.
The severity of symptoms differs between individuals, but the most common symptoms usually relate to memory loss, along with issues with language and perception.
Memory loss is often categorised as a normal part of getting older however, this is not the case. This could be a warning sign of the onset of dementia, so should not be ignored.
Despite this, Alzheimer’s Society has revealed that diagnosis rates have fallen to a five-year low. The idea of diagnosis can be daunting, yet it is important to get a diagnosis as quickly as possible to get the help needed.
Being a progressive disease, the symptoms of dementia worsen over time and, sadly, there is currently no cure available.
So, after getting a proper diagnosis, how can you cope with dementia?
There are several treatment options available that have been found to have varying degrees of efficacy.
The first step for getting effective treatment is to get the right diagnosis, as there are four main types of dementia which will influence the recommended treatments.
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, for which some of the symptoms can be lessened using drug therapies.
However, there are also non-pharmaceutical approaches which can have a drastic positive impact on the lives of individuals with dementia.
For instance, person-centred care provides people with dementia the extra support that they need, not only for practical matters but also for emotional support.
One of the most important things is for people to be understanding and patient with their loved ones, as memory loss and confusion can be accompanied by heightened anxiety.
Do you or your loved one need support? As specialist providers of complex care, we can help.
