1 / 18

Dementia

Dementia. A Glorious opportunity. 1. What is Dementia. Progressive, not just memory loss Reduced attention span, ability to do things, understand or communicate May get lost or not recognise people Caused by amyloid plaques/ tau tangles (‘rungs’ in communication ladders)

harryjoy
Download Presentation

Dementia

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Dementia • A Glorious opportunity 1

  2. What is Dementia • Progressive, not just memory loss • Reduced attention span, ability to do things, understand or communicate • May get lost or not recognise people • Caused by amyloid plaques/tau tangles (‘rungs’ in communication ladders) • Same effect from TIA’s (mini strokes) 2

  3. Yesterday Today Forever Jesus is the same • YesterdayMost remember how a person used to be in the past • Today Some recognise the worth of the individual as they are today and treat them with respect and dignity • Forever Christians should see how the person will be welcomed in heaven and treat them accordingly Do we believe this, as how God sees us? 3

  4. There is always a reason • ‘Every communication has a purpose, the challenge is to discover it. • No word or action is meaningless, what sounds like nonsense or repetition is, to express a feeling, to show a need, to give information or to get a response. • What appears to be inappropriate, may be a form of communication.’ 4

  5. Words • The meaning of words may become disconnected from their sounds so may not understand, or be able to construct a logical sentence in reply, may produce a word salad. • May not understand letters in words so reading can be difficult. • Talking about something familiar might enable them to ‘join in. 5

  6. Actions • Perhaps a need is being expressed. • Wandering may have a purpose or be responding to an hallucination. • Sleep patterns might get muddled. • Might not recognise an item (fork) so not know what to do with it. 6

  7. Visual Spatial • Might not recognise self in a mirror and think it is someone else. • May misjudge the edge of the table or bathroom furniture unless distinct/contrasting colours. • Pouring liquids can be tricky or dangerous. 7

  8. Questions • Asking What time is it?,might just mean, “I have no idea what I am meant to be doing”. • Asking Can I go home?,perhaps means “I do not feel comfortable ” 8

  9. Strange behaviours • Aggression often due to frustration misinterpretation of events such as reflections in windows or mirrors • Incontinence can sometimes just be forgetting to go • Might not be able to distinguish dreams from reality. Don’t laugh or call them a liar, is it a fantasy? • Unwillingness to ‘cooperate’ may be due to fear eg showers may not have been used in their childhood 9

  10. SITUATIONS that can precipitate agitation or confusion • Large Gatherings • Noise • Unfamiliar People • A Task that is too complicated • Travel • Unfamiliar Surroundings • Illness 10

  11. When agitated • Don’t ask questions • Don’t overwhelm with words • Simplify/calm the environment • Reassure, show what to do, make a cup of tea • Too many people - take to a quieter place. • Engage in a familiar activity a walk or a car ride. • Playing suitable music can calm and reassure 11

  12. Whenvisiting • Approach from the front • Don’t tap on the back • Introduce yourself with context • Wear bright clothes • Talk about hobbies, or subjects, that meant a great deal earlier in their life. • Show videos or pictures of events or outings. 12

  13. Feelings remain when facts are forgotten • Exit strategy • Absent people • Affirming statements • Reasons to sit • (No need to tell lies) SPECAL explained in Contented Dementia 13

  14. PastoralVisiting • research their background, if possible • use a bible version familiar to them (not you) common prayer book, SU resources • brief visits, approach from front, sit near, make eye contact, look interested, calm, perhaps touch hand • talk slowly, clearly, one subject at a time, be patient • don’t ask questions tell of God’s unconditional love reassure of God’s acceptance, confirm spiritual truths 14

  15. Resources • Contented Dementia .. Oliver JamesAnd still the music plays... Graham StokesDementiaFrank & Linda’s story .. Louise Morse • Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out .. Richard Taylor My journey into Alzheimer's .. Rev Robert Davis • Still Alice .. Lisa Genova Books explaining why & how Books by those with A Novel explaining what it is like for a professional to have A 15

  16. Carers • Dementia also effects the carers Can become exhausted and very depressed and hide it well • Need a break from the responsibilities some family members even go abroad to escape • Suffer great guilt if unable to cope This can add to their loss/grieving and may be hypersensitive • Younger people can find it more distressing they may feel trapped and be fearful re their own future • Some aren’t able to make use of offered help walk their path with them Novel by Carer 16

  17. How do we see it? Alzheimer’s photo 2010 • Our society glorifies youth individual accomplishment and independence. • The Maoris have a shared `memory’ and all age groups equally valued. • Zulu proverb `a person becomes a person through other people’. • Christians all members of one body. 17

  18. Dementia • A Glorious opportunity 18

More Related