WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes dementia as: “…a syndrome due to disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, of which there is impairment of multiple higher cortical functions…”
What this definition means is that the following functions may be affected in a person with dementia:
Memory – This is where a person may become forgetful of things such as names or recent events. The person’s short-term memory is usually affected leading them to forget recent events.
Orientation – A person with dementia may become lost even in a familiar environment.
Comprehension – The person may have difficulty understanding what it is you are trying to explain to them or what you are asking of them.
Emotions – Very low stress levels can occur in someone with dementia and they may therefore overreact to seemingly ordinary situations. A person with dementia may misinterpret a situation and become easily upset or agitated.
Judgment – A culmination of some or all of the above can result in poor judgment regarding others or themselves.
India is a diverse country with geographical and socio-cultural differences. We have a rapidly aging population, which currently exceeds more than a 100 million people. This number will steadily increase in the coming decades. Age related disabling conditions like dementia would increase and have a wider impact depending on the socio-cultural context.
It is estimated that over 3.7 million people were affected by dementia in our country in 2010. This is expected to double by 2030. Despite the magnitude, there is gross ignorance; neglect and services are scarce for people with dementia and their families. We know that dementia is not part of aging and it is caused by a variety of diseases. We now have a range of options to treat the symptoms of dementia and offer practical help to those affected. The challenge posed by dementia as a health and social issue is of a scale we can no longer ignore.
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR
People with dementia exhibit the following behaviors:
1. Restlessness
2. Aggression
3. Agitation
4. Wandering
5. Shadowing
6. Anxiety
7. Depressed mood
8. Hallucinations
9. Delusions
Caregivers are encouraged to view dementia as a disability that can be compensated for by positive approaches. People with dementia continue to function at an emotional level and will pick up on another person’s feelings (particularly if they are stressed or upset or annoyed) via body language, tone of voice and facial expression.
References
1. The Dementia India Report 2010
2. Dementia Care: A Guide for Family Caregivers by Home Instead Senior Care
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Author Profile:
Sanchita Chakraborti, a Minnesota Graduate with 14 years of Corporate Experience in various capacities in global sales, strategy and research functions, a fitness freak and a voracious reader.
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