Dementia - What the Future Holds

Welcome back to my monthly blog on dementia. A diagnosis of dementia is pretty scary and is likely to leave the individual and those close to them not really knowing what the future holds.

Although dementia affects people in different ways and can progress at very different rates there are some things that are likely to happen at certain points, and by being aware of this in advance can help with planning for the future.

The progression of dementia (most typically Alzheimer’s Disease) can be broken down into three stages as follows:

Early Stage Dementia: at this stage symptoms may not be very apparent, forgetting names more than usual, trouble with everyday routines, forgetting what you have just read or been told, misplacing things more than usual.

We don’t really know how long people have dementia before they start displaying symptoms but it can be many years, this stage with minor symptoms can last many years and people can live a normal life, driving, working etc.

Forward Planning: Life can go on as normal mostly during this stage, the person may not enjoy large social gatherings or travel as much as they used to.

Mid Stage Dementia: at this stage symptoms become more obvious, and the individual will start to need support to live independently. Memory loss is likely to become more obvious with short term memory significantly affected. Regular tasks like cooking meals and doing the shopping are likely to become difficult and their mood may well be affected by dementia.

Forward Planning: It is worth thinking about how the person can be supported to stay as independent as they can and stay living a happy life. You may want to consider some respite care like a day centre or a caregiver supporting the individual on a regular basis.

Late Stage Dementia: At this stage of dementia the symptoms become severe and the individual will need help with most aspects of daily living (meals, medication, personal care etc). They may well no longer recognise friends and family but will still have memories of earlier times. Their ability to communicate and respond will be limited and their mobility will be impaired.

Forward Planning: Caring for someone at this stage of dementia can be challenging and it is worth thinking ahead as to what the options are for care and what both the person with dementia wishes and what is practical depending on how things develop. There are great services from hospices to support people living at home and caregivers can provide care and support to help the individual stay comfortable. You may wish to consider under what circumstances you would opt to move to a care home.

As it progresses dementia does create plenty of challenges and I think it is worth thinking ahead and discussing with your family how you all plan to deal with the possible scenarios ahead.

I believe that life is best when you make the most out of what you can do, rather than focussing on what you cannot. A dementia diagnosis does not put an immediate stop to life and people live full and happy lives for many years with dementia.

Alastair Shanks, Owner Right at Home GF and Dementia Friends Champion