01752 905790
info@extra-help.co.uk
Last month, Claire and I attended a Dementia Friends training course, provided by Plymouth City Council. It certainly gave us more of an insight as to how to better help some of our clients, who are suffering from this terrible illness …
We have also recommended to all of our home helpers that they attend the course. Dementia is a set of symptoms which include the following:
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Becoming confused and increasingly forgetful,
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Experiencing mood swings, becoming sad/angry and feeling depressed,
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Becoming more withdrawn from social situations,
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Having increased difficulty with day to day activities.
These symptoms can vary from person to person and get progressively worse over time, eventually leading to the sufferer needing total support from the people who care for them. There are several different types of Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of Dementia. During the course of the disease, protein ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. Alzheimer’s affects around 496,000 people in the UK. Age is the greatest risk factor for Dementia. One in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in 6 people over the age of 80 suffer from the disease. Other risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes.
Vascular Dementia is the second most common form of Dementia. It is caused by a decreased blood supply to the brain. People suffering from Vascular Dementia may suffer symptoms of a stroke, speech difficulties and physical weakness, as well as the other symptoms previously described.
Although there is no cure for Dementia, treatment is available to help slow down the progression of the disease. This includes drug therapy and lifestyle changes. Providing the best care possible for your loved ones is always essential.
Here at Extra Help we can help you! Our team of experienced home helpers’ can take the strain and provide support services to take the pressure off struggling families. We can help with shopping, meal preparation, visits to GP and hospital appointments, as well as cleaning and housekeeping services.
We can also help if you have any holidays planned; many of our clients use this to make sure that their loved ones are properly cared for when they are away.
If you would like to become a Dementia Friend then follow this link for more information and if you’d like to know more about how Extra Help can offer your family support then call us on 0845 618 2904 today!
Until next time …
LOUISE PEN-COLLINGS
