Dementia

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe a range of disorders or conditions that are affecting the brain. There are several types of dementia, the most common and well known one is Alzheimer's disease. You can have Dementia at any age, not just as you get older, and everyone diagnosed with dementia will experience their own unique symptoms.

What are the most common types of Dementia?

The most common types of Dementia are as follows:

Alzheimer's Disease - symptoms are usually mild to begin with and then worsen over time. (Difficulty with language, depressed or agitated and may withdraw from family and friends, memory lapses, problems with special awareness, difficulty making decisions, problem solving and/or disorientation of time or place, a person not recognizing a familiar face.)

Vascular Dementia - caused by small blood clots preventing oxygen getting to the brain. (Progression can be quite erratic as a person my not have a series of blood clots for sometime. People suffering will usually appear to be 'getting better', this is usually temporary, as the damage to the brain can eventually lead to difficulties; e.g. with daily living, attention, memory, decision making and motivation.)

Frontotemporal - More common under the age of 65. Frontotemporal Dementia represents a group of conditions which are caused due to nerve cells in the brain dying and the nerve pathways becoming damaged in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. (Behavioural Variant Frontotemporal Dementia symptoms can be: changes in behavior or personality, apathy, obsessive or repetitive behaviours, loss of empathy, changes in appetite, difficulties making decisions, problem solving and concentration.)(Primary Progressive Aphasia, which consists of Semantic Dementia and Progressive Non Fluent Aphasia can have the following symptoms: language difficulties, speech or grammar problems, reduced understanding and difficulty recognizing familiar faces or objects.)

Dementia with Lewy bodies - Dementia with Lewy Bodies is caused by a build up of clumps and proteins in nerve cells in the brain, known as Lewy Bodies. (Symptoms of this are: fluctuating alertness, confusion and concentration levels, memory issues, mood changes, struggling with problem solving, spatial awareness, difficulty doing everyday tasks, tremors, slower movement, sleep disturbance, unsteadiness, an increase in falls and visual hallucinations.

Although there is no known cure for Dementia just yet, there is still support out there for you, anyone looking after someone with Dementia and anyone looking for more information. Here are some services here to help with Dementia:

Local Services +

	Huntingdonshire Dementia Action Alliance - Dementia Action Alliance brings together leading organisations across England committed to transforming health and social care outcomes for people affected by dementia. Dementia Action Alliance captures and promotes best practice, enabling it to benefit many more people. They do this through member Action Plans. These are made public on their website. Members come together to share best practice and learn about the latest trends and innovations from across health and social care. We enable this through our events programme that includes roundtables, conferences and webinars. Members come together to influence system-wide change and campaign on major issues within health and social care affecting people living with dementia.

	Alzheimer's Society provides: Dementia Support Service Cambridgeshire - Our Dementia Advisers provide information support and practical advice to anyone with a diagnosis of any type of Dementia and carers. Here are a few examples of the support we provide: ■ help with legal and financial documents ■ emotional support when things get tough ■ connecting you to local support groups ■ help to understand and live with dementia, including coping techniques ■ support with everyday living, such as government benefits. We will support you via phone, virtually or face to face. If you need support or help please get intouch with us on 03331503456 or 01223620962 or email us at Cambridgeshiredementia@alzheimers.org.uk Pre-Assessment Support service – Are you experiencing problems that are affecting your daily life? Forgetting people’s names, misplacing items, struggling to remember day-to[1]day events or finding it hard to follow conversations? Or have you already been referred to the Memory Assessment Service and are waiting for an appointment? If the answer is yes to either question, then perhaps our new Pre-Assessment Team may be able to help you. We know that lapses in memory and concentration can cause difficulties in day to day living and doing things that previously you had no problems with. It’s normal to get frustrated, worried, or lose self-confidence. The Pre-Assessment Service has been set up to help those individuals experiencing memory problems. The team are able to provide practical advice and information on: memory strategies, memory aids and tools, staying healthy and can sign-post you to services that provide support to enable you to live well with memory loss. If you need support or help please get intouch with us on 01223620962 or email us at Cambridgeshiredementia@alzheimers.org.uk Intense Support service – We know that caring for someone with Dementia can, at times, be difficult, and at times you, as a carer, feel at crisis point. If you are able to answer yes to any of the questions above, then perhaps our Intensive Support Team may be able to help you. This unique Intensive Support service has been set up to help you to find new ways and strategies to help you cope with your caring role. We aim to identify ways to improve your own health and wellbeing and help you understand Dementia. One of our trained specialist Dementia Advisers will contact you to offer tailored support that meets your needs. Offering an expert listening ear, they are there to talk openly to about the difficulties you are experiencing. If you need support or help please get intouch with us on 01223620962 or email us at Cambridgeshiredementia@alzheimers.org.uk

	Peterborough Dementia Action Alliance - Dementia Action Alliance brings together leading organisations across England committed to transforming health and social care outcomes for people affected by dementia. Dementia Action Alliance captures and promotes best practice, enabling it to benefit many more people. They do this through member Action Plans. These are made public on their website. Members come together to share best practice and learn about the latest trends and innovations from across health and social care. We enable this through our events programme that includes roundtables, conferences and webinars. Members come together to influence system-wide change and campaign on major issues within health and social care affecting people living with dementia.

	Love to Move - Love to Move is a seated exercise and movement programme, packed with fun, music and laughter and specially designed to help improve the fitness of mind and body. This exercise programme is unique in the UK and proven to have significant physical, emotional and cognitive benefits for all participants, particularly those living with dementia. Each session lasts one hour and is delivered by an experienced and enthusiastic tutor.

	Next Steps - Next Steps helps you to find the right support, at the right time, while waiting for your memory assessment appointment. Here you can find information about what to expect at your memory assessment and organisations who can help, including steps you can take right now.

Local Dementia Cafes and Groups +

A Dementia Café is a café that people suffering with dementia can visit and be social, along with their friends, families and carers. The cafés are relaxed are give people the opportunity to talk with staff and other people about dementia whilst having a cup of tea and cake. Some cafés host regular talks by a range of local services who promote wellbeing and safety.

You can find Dementia cafés and support groups in your local area that offer support for people with memory loss challenges and carers here.

National Services +

	Dementia UK - This site offers support and helpful information about dementia and how you can get in touch for more help and info.

	Alzheimer's Research UK - Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity, dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure. Backed by our passionate scientists and supporters, we’re challenging the way people think about dementia, uniting the big thinkers in the field and funding the innovative science that will deliver a cure.

	Alzheimer's Society - This site has great information about getting help and getting involved in supporting people with Alzheimer's.

	Age UK - Age UK's vision is to make the UK a great place to grow older. They do this by inspiring, supporting and enabling in a number of ways.

	Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk - We support family carers of all ages across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk. We also offer flexible, professional care services to adults and children with a range of disabilities and health conditions.