When an elderly family member is diagnosed with dementia, it can be an incredibly stressful and distressing time for everyone involved. There will be a lot to get your head around as you come to terms with the diagnosis and start to consider what this might mean for your loved one in the not-so-distant future.
Unfortunately, dementia is commonly misunderstood by people and there is so much confusion surrounding this disease, and it doesn’t help that the internet is full of misconceptions too. This confusion can make the diagnosis even scarier and many will be very worried about what the next few months and years will have in store.
In an attempt to help put families’ minds at ease during this difficult time, below we have looked into some of the most common ways dementia is misunderstood, setting the record straight.
‘Dementia is incurable so there’s nothing you can do to help your loved one’
Yes, there is currently no ‘cure’ for dementia, however, an early diagnosis can help you to get the right treatment and adequate support in place. It can be easy to give up all hope after a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, but you will probably still have many years left with them and there are so many ways you can make this time as enjoyable as possible. Whilst dementia is incurable, you can most definitely help and support an elderly family member throughout.
‘People with dementia will become violent and difficult to care for’
It is incredibly common for people to assume that everyone who has been diagnosed with dementia will become violent, especially in the later stages of this disease, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Different types of dementia affect different people in different ways and there are also a number of different factors that will affect the speed of the progression of this disease too. Companionship and social stimulation can often be an effective strategy when trying to reduce the levels of agitation in individuals, so this is certainly something to take into consideration. So, try not to get too caught up in what might happen in the future.
‘Those in the later stages of dementia have to live in a residential care home’
Sometimes, those who are caring for someone with dementia will choose to move them into a care home when they’re struggling to provide them with the support they need, but this isn’t your only option. There are lots of dementia care services available which will allow your loved one to stay in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. These are worthwhile looking into straight after diagnosis and they will be able to help you all enormously.
‘Dementia progresses very quickly and you will be forgotten’
Whilst dementia is a progressive disease, as mentioned above, there are lots of factors that affect the speed of progression. For many, their symptoms will be relatively mild at the time of diagnosis and over several years they will slowly start to get worse. You should try not to worry yourself about significant memory loss and being forgotten by your loved one, and just take every day as it comes, focusing on how you can help in the present moment.
‘People with dementia don’t understand what’s going on around them’
The symptoms of dementia include problems with memory, problem-solving and language, and many will experience changes in behaviour, perception and emotion as the disease progresses. That being said, many still live well for a long time after diagnosis and they will be aware of what is going on around them for the majority of this time. You shouldn’t start treating your loved one differently or like a child due to their diagnosis, this will become very infuriating for them.
Arranging for dementia care in Manchester
It is fair to say that dementia is commonly misunderstood and this can cause a lot of unnecessary worry to families who have just had a loved one diagnosed with this disease. Hopefully, the information above will help to put your mind at ease as you begin to come to terms with what is happening, and remember to take anything you come across with a pinch of salt as there are a lot of misconceptions out there surrounding dementia. It is important to remember that with the right support systems and structures in place your loved one can still have a good quality of life.
Should you wish to arrange some care at home for someone who is living with dementia, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Beloved Homecare. Our dementia care services allow your loved one to remain in familiar surroundings for as long as possible and you can have complete peace of mind that they’re being well looked after. When you turn to us for dementia care in Manchester, all personal care and domestic duties are carried out by fully trained and DBS checked staff, so you don’t need to worry at all in this regard either.