For dementia action week this year, we (alongside Alzheimer’s society) are raising awareness about receiving an early diagnosis and the common symptoms of dementia. This article will detail the common symptoms, how they progress and, the benefits to an early diagnosis.
Common Symptoms
Dementia can appear different for everyone but there are several common symptoms to look out for:
- Memory Loss – for example, problems recalling things that happened recently.
- Difficulty concentrating, planning or organising, such as struggling to make decisions, solve problems or follow a series of steps.
- Problems communicating or speaking– e.g. Difficulties following a conversation or finding the right word for something.
- Problems understanding what is being seen- for example, issues judging distances or perceiving the edges of objects.
- Being confused about times or places – such as losing track of the time or becoming confused about where they are.
- Mood changes or difficulty controlling emotions – for example, becoming unusually anxious, irritable, sad or frightened.
You can find a symptom checklist on the Alzheimer’s Society Website Here.
Symptoms as Dementia Progresses
Dementia progresses at different rates for everyone, but there are some common symptoms that can arise over time.
Aggressive behaviour – as a person’s dementia progresses, they may sometimes behave in ways that are physically or verbally aggressive.
Walking about– walking repeatedly at home or leaving the house during the day or night.
Lack of self-awareness– when a person with dementia is unable to recognise changes in their behaviour and emotions.
Sleep problems– dementia can cause disruption to their body clock, so people with the condition may sleep more in the day and have difficulty sleeping at night.
Delusions– strongly believing something that is false.
Getting a Diagnosis
According to Alzheimer’s society, 1 in 3 people in the UK living with dementia do not have a diagnosis.
If you’ve only recently become aware of changes, it might feel as though your symptoms aren’t ‘bad enough’ yet. However, getting an early diagnosis of dementia can be important.
An early diagnosis helps you access:
-Any benefits or legal protection you may be entitled to
-The right support to live as well as possible, including treatments to help with symptoms
-Information to help you and others understand the changes you’re experiencing
Speaking to your GP is the starting point.
The Benefits to Getting an Early Diagnosis
An early diagnosis means you can access the necessary services to support you as early as possible so you can continue living life to the fullest.
It might not be dementia– problems with memory and thinking are not always dementia and can be symptoms of other conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or stress.
Access to support– getting a diagnosis lets you know what type of dementia you have, which can help you plan for the future and to see what therapies and medical treatments may be best for you
Benefits and protection– a diagnosis may help you access certain financial benefits, and also means you are legally protected from discrimination.
How to ‘Prevent’ Dementia
There are various activities you can do, which can be beneficial for your physical and mental health, and therefore can help in ‘preventing’ dementia.
Broomfield Care Can Help You Manage Your Dementia Symptoms
At Broomfield Care, we specialise in providing support to individuals with dementia. We help them to maintain their everyday skills and to undertake activities that thy enjoy to enable them to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible. We pride ourselves on working sensitively with individuals to encourage conversational skills and to enable the person we are supporting to maintain their interests in life.
