Compiled by our Placement Student, Claire (Social Service Worker Gerontology Program)
What is Dementia?
It is important to understand the disease so you and your loved ones know what to expect and how to provide dementia care.
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Dementia is not a single disease; it’s an overall term — like heart disease — that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Disorders grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes.
Check out “The Alzheimer Journey: Module 4 – Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: The Link Between Brain & Behavior” from Alzheimer Society on Vimeo. Click here to learn more.
Another resource to check out is What is Alzheimer’s Disease? This provides information on Alzheimer’s and answer any questions you may have.
Facts:
Dementia affects our ability to:
· Concentrate
· Think
· Comprehend.
· Formulate Ideas.
· Reason
· Remember
· Judge or evaluate our actions.
· Communicate
Alzheimer’s Disease:
· Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia (60-80% of cases)
· Gradual deficits in the ability to perform everyday tasks.
· AD typically leads to impairments in higher order cognitive functions such as memory, language, and
communication.
· Very slow development (10+ year process)
What are the Causes?
Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected.
The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for distinct functions (for example, memory, judgment, and movement). When cells in a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions normally.
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, but there are many kinds.
Vascular: occurs when the brain’s blood supply is blocked or damaged, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and die.
For more information on Vascular Dementia, click here to learn more from the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada
Dementia with Lewy bodies – caused by abnormal ‘Lewy bodies’ deposits of protein called alpha-synuclein inside of the brain’s nerve cells – shares many similarities with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information on Dementia with Lewy bodies, click here to learn more
Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of rare disorders that primarily affect the areas of the brain associated with personality and behavior.
The most common frontotemporal disorder is behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Common symptoms of bvFTD include changes in personality, behavior and judgement. A person with frontotemporal dementia may also experience language difficulties, known as primary progressive aphasia.
Other names often used for frontotemporal dementia include:
▫ Semantic dementia,
▫ Frontotemporal lobar degeneration,
▫ Frontal lobe dementia,
▫ Tau disease or taupathy and
▫ Pick’s disease and Pick’s complex.
Frontotemporal dementia is also related to diseases that affect movement, such as atypical forms of parkinsonism (like corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
For more information on Frontotemporal dementia, click here to learn more from the Alzheimer Society of Canada
Living alone with Alzheimer’s
Canadian Alzheimer’s Society defines living safely & independently as follows:
Many people live alone. Living in a place that is safe, familiar and comfortable can help you live well with dementia. However, having dementia presents challenges for your safety, but there are things you can do to manage the risks.
Click here to learn how to live with dementia safely and independently alone.
Learn more on YouTube Module 5: The home environment where a “mime” in the video points out possible hazards in the home to show the importance of maintaining a safe environment.
Additional video resources:
Courageous Conversations: Living Alone with Dementia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiUfMMinPcU
Staying independent with dementia:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/staying-independent-with-dementia/
Living alone with dementia at 92 – Remaining independent with Alzheimer’s disease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGLBytHHg6Y
Tips:
Building a good support network when you live alone
Living alone as a person with dementia from the Alzheimer’s Society offers a wide range of resources in staying connected, involved, and supported with the community.
Building a good support network and staying involved in the community can be very helpful for people with dementia who live alone.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/staying-independent/living-alone
https://archive.alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/files/national/heads-up/heads-up-for-healthier-living_print-friendly.pdf
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-living-dementia/living-well-dementia/staying-socially-connected
COVID-19 and people living alone with Dementia
It’s important to take care of YOU! Follow the PDF Manuel on how to stay safe from COVID-19 or you can check out the direct link to the Alzheimer’s Society COVID-19 Safety tips page.
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/dementia-resources/managing-through-covid-19/covid-19-tips-people-living-alone
https://archive.alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/files/national/COVID19/tipsheets/covid-19%20tip%20sheet%20-%20pwd%20-%20en%20-%20final.pdf
Helpful Resources Living with Dementia:
o Memory tips & tricks – An information sheet for strategies to help you manage your memory problems,
based on ideas and suggestions provided by people living with memory loss.
o https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/memory-tips-and-tricks.pdf
o Communication challenges and helpful strategies for the person with dementia – This brochure
offers some helpful communication strategies for people with dementia who may find themselves
struggling with changes in their communication ability.
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/day-to-day-series_communication-challenges.pdf
o Shared experiences – A booklet designed to answer some of your questions and concerns about living
with Alzheimer’s disease (also available in audio files).
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/sxp300-1e-2018-final-md.pdf
o WHEN SLEEP BECOMES AN ISSUE: TIPS AND STRATEGIES:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/When-sleep-becomes-an-issue_Alzheimer-Society-Canada.pdf
o Dementia, Intimacy and Sexuality conversations, resources and more:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/conversations_intimacy-and-sexuality.pdf
o Dementia and Living Alone:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/conversations-about-dementia-and-living-alone.pdf
o Mealtimes and Dementia:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Meal-times_Alzheimer-Society-Canada.pdf
o Personal Care Information and resources:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/day-to-day-series_personal-care.pdf
o Did you misplace or lose something? Lost devices? Check out this resource for helpful tips: https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/day-to-day-series_locating-devices.pdf
o Decision-Making: Respecting Individual Choice:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/conversations_decision-making.pdf
o Your Quality of Life does not stop because you are living with Dementia, check out these resources from the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/tough-issues_quality-of-life.pdf
o Dementia and Driving: https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/conversations_driving.pdf
o Tips and strategies to support communication at every stage of the disease:
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/day-to-day-series_communication.pdf
Programs & Services:
MedicAlert® Safely Home®
MedicAlert® Safely Home® helps identify a person living with dementia who has gone missing and assists them to return home safely. Learn about how this service works, how to sign up and pricing information.
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/programs-services/medicalert-safely-home
First Link®… your first step to living well with dementia.
Connecting with First Link means you can:
Receive one-on-one or group support
Be referred to local healthcare providers and community services
Meet other people in similar circumstances and exchange experiences
Get help to plan your future
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/asc_first_link_e.pdf
Please call 1-800-616-8816 or your local Alzheimer Society to access information and further support!
Additional Mississauga Community Resources and Support for those living with Dementia:
Dementia Care in Mississauga: https://www.alzheimers.net/resources/ontario/mississauga
Adult Day Programs: http://www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca/goalsandachievements/programareaandinitiatives/adultdayprograms.aspx
Acclaim Health Services: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvzD2bmL52I
Alzheimer’s Society Peel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvx9rBAuSnU
ESS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsHVyWQy6qc
Halton Region Day Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFU9YZJEme4
Senaca Day Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ1JNXJZymc
Sheridan Villa Day Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bvw8Lp-ZX4
