PHASES OF DEMENTIA

DEMENTIA

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Dementia as:

A syndrome due to a disease of the brain, usually of chronic or progressive nature, in which there is a disturbance of multiple cortical functions, calculations, learning capacity, language and judgment.

Impairment of cognitive function is commonly accompanied and occasionally preceded by deterioration in emotional control, social behavior or motivation. This syndrome occurs in Alzheimer’s disease, in cerebrovascular disease and in other conditions primarily or secondarily affecting the brain.

Normal Ageing and Dementia

• In normal ageing: absent mindedness and slower at remembering.

• In dementia: forgetting with increasing frequency, confusion, difficulty communicating and disorientation, even in familiar surroundings.

Phases of Dementia

1. EARLY DEMENTIA

2. MODERATE DEMENTIA

3. SEVERE DEMENTIA

Early Dementia

• The onset is very gradual, and its beginnings are often difficult to identify.

• During the early phase of dementia, the person may:

o Appear more apathetic, with less sparkle. o May experience incontinence and difficulty in

swallowing.o Lose interest in hobbies or activities. o Be unwilling to try new things. o Be unable to adapt to change.

Early Dementia

o Show poor judgement and make poor decisions.

o Slower to grasp complex ideas and take longer with routine jobs.

o Blame others for ‘stealing’ lost items.

o Become more self-centred and less concerned with others and their feelings.

Early Dementia

oBecome more forgetful of details of recent events.

oBe more likely to repeat themselves or lose the thread of their conversation.

oBe more irritable or upset if they fail at something.

oHave difficulty handling money.

Moderate Dementia

• During the ‘moderate’ phase, the person’s problems are more apparent and disabling. They may:

o Be very forgetful of recent events. Memory for the distant past seems better, but some details may be forgotten or confused.

o Be confused regarding time and place. o Become lost if away from familiar

surroundings. o Forget names of family or friends, or

confuse one family member with another.

Moderate Dementia

o Forget saucepans and kettles on the stove. May leave gas unlit.

o Wander around streets, perhaps at night, sometimes becoming lost.

o Behave inappropriately - for example, going outdoors in their nightwear.

Moderate Dementia

o See or hear things that are not there. o Become very repetitive. o Be neglectful of hygiene or eating. o Become angry, upset or distressed

through frustration.

Severe Dementia

During this later stage of dementia, the person is severely disabled and need total care. At this stage, the person may: • Be unable to remember - for even a few

minutes – something they’d just done.• Lose their ability to understand or use speech. • Be incontinent. • Show no recognition of friends and family. • Need help with eating, washing, bathing,

using the toilet or dressing.

Severe Dementia

• Fail to recognise everyday objects. • Be disturbed at night. • Be restless, perhaps looking for a long

dead relative. • Be aggressive, especially when feeling

threatened or closed in. • Have difficulty walking, eventually perhaps

becoming confined to a wheelchair. • Have uncontrolled movements.

TASK How Dementia Affects This

COOKING The person may forget that they have put food in the oven or on the stove

SHOPPING Person may forget to pay money or may get confused which products to choose among the things displayed

DRIVING Person may forget the way or may not know the traffic rules

GOING FOR A WALK Person may forget the way back home

SOCIALISING WITH FRIENDS

Person may forget friends or may find an unknown person familiar

The Effects of Dementia

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