Signs of Dementia W hat Everyone Needs to Know Presented by: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Signs of Dementia W hat Everyone Needs to Know

Presented by: Gayleen Bradley Certified Dementia Specialist

Learning Objectives Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementia Types Recognize the Symptoms Understand Behaviors Caused by Dementia Techniques to deal with behaviors

What is Dementia? A decline in cognitive function or mental ability Visual Perception • Reasoning & Judgment • Memory • Communication & Language • Ability to focus & pay attention • Difficult time carrying out daily tasks they had • performed routinely throughout their lives

Fact about Dementia 36.5 Million Worldwide 5 Million in the United States 6th Leading Cause of Death 1 in 3 Seniors Die with Dementia 250,000 with Younger Onset

Dementia Clock Test Dementia Clock Test

Clocks - Dementia Perception

Causes of Dementia A decline in cognitive function or mental ability Visual Perception • Reasoning & Judgment • Memory • Communication & Language • Ability to focus & pay attention • Difficult time carrying out daily tasks they had • performed routinely throughout their lives

Six Steps for a Healthy Brain Healthy Regular Mental Exercise Diet Stimulation Quality Stress Active Management Social Life Sleep

Types of Dementia

Types of Dementia Alzheimer’s • 60 to 80 percent of people have Alzheimer’s who have dementia • Symptoms are mild at first and get worse over the years • Short term memory is usually affected first

Types of Dementia Vascular • Caused by strokes • Symptoms can begin with poor judgment or trouble planning, organizing and making decisions Other symptoms may include • Trouble speaking or understanding speech • Problems recognizing sight and sounds that use to be familiar • Changes in personality and mood • Problems walking and having frequent falls

Types of Dementia - Irreversible Dementia with Lewy Bodies Lewy Bodies are microscopic deposits of a protein that forms in the brain Symptoms Include: • Problems thinking clearly, making decisions, or paying attention • Memory problems • Seeing things that are not there • Unusual sleeping during the day • Periods of blanking out or staring • Problems with movement • Dreams that you act out physically

Types of Dementia Parkinson’s Disease Dementia • People with Parkinson’s get this type of Dementia about 50 to 80 percent of the time • On average, the symptoms of dementia develop about 10 years after Parkinson’s • This type is very similar to Lew Body and experience the same symptoms

Types of Dementia Frontemporal Dementia Symptoms of FTD: • Personality and behavioral changes • Sudden lack of inhibitions in personal and social situations • Problems coming up with the right words when speaking • Movement and balance problems

Types of Dementia Mixed Dementia • This is a combination of two types of dementia • The most common combination is: Alzheimer’s and Vascular

Reversible types of Dementia Reversible Toxic & Head Alcohol Medications Infections Metabolic Depression Injury Induced Disorders

Types of Medications Brand Approved For Aricept All Stages Razadyne Mild to Moderate Namenda Moderate to Severe Exelon Mild to Moderate Namzaric Moderate to Severe

Alzheimer’s 10 Warning Signs

Know the 10 Signs Memory loss that disrupts daily life Challenges in planning or solving problems Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or at leisure

Know the 10 Signs Confusion with time or place Troubles understanding visual images and spatial relationships New problems with words in speaking or writing

Know the 10 Signs Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgement Withdrawal from work or social activities Changes in mood & personality

Anatomy of the Brain

Health Concerns that can Cause Behaviors • Dehydration • Malnourishment • Depression • Infections - UTI • Pain • Sight and Hearing Problems

As Dementia Advances… Inability to understand Too much Lose ability Lose ability what is stimuli is to navigate to express confusing and being their world. their needs overwhelming. communicated to them.

Stages of Dementia Early Stage • Feel they are having memory lapses • Forget familiar words or location of objects • Hard time with math & paying bills • Do not require any care at this point • Become moody or withdrawn

Stages of Dementia Mid Stage • Losing objects • Becoming dangerous to leave alone • Forget where familiar stores are • Leave items cooking on the stove Moderate • Can become suspicious • Losing track of time & day • Lose ability to initiate tasks like showing, changing clothes, remembering to eat

Stages of Dementia End Stage Lose ability to Trouble Help with most or Difficulty carrying walk without remembering to all ADLS on conversations assistance swallow

All Behavior Has Meaning Anxious – Agitated – Aggressive – Abusive – Wandering - Worried & Upset & Hostile & Physically & Walking Uneasy Distressed Belligerent Verbally aimlessly

Does the Behavior Need to Stopped? Does the behavior put the client at risk? Does the behavior put you at risk? Does the behavior put some else at risk? If the behavior is just annoying to you, it doesn’t merit you intervening.

The caregiver needs to find out what unmet needs are by being a good detective Be a Detective • Last time they ate or drank? • Last time they went to the bathroom? • Do they wear glasses or hearing aides? • Is there too much noise around? • Are they tired? • Did they sleep well night before? • Are they comfortable? • Could they be in pain? • Is it time for medications? • Too cold or hot? • Need to be moved? • Are they out of their routine? • Are you new? • Are they bored? • Do an activity!

Step into Their World Empathy – validate their feelings & read their body language Power of Touch Do not confront Don’t tell them NO! Don’t ever argue Make direct eye contact.

Techniques to Use Redirect • Quickly change the subject • Change walking direction Triggers • Know their triggers & what soothes them • Favorite food or drink? • Pet Peeves Life Story • What did they do for a living? • Where did they grow up? • Discuss family members Simple Choices Pick between two items

Techniques to Use Physically Remove • Remove them from environment if necessary Change Environment • Turn TV Off • Go for a walk • Go to different room Intervene • Within 30 seconds Calm • Stay calm • Don’t lose your patience

Techniques to Use Apologize • Take the blame • Help diffuse the situation. Relationship First • Relationship before task Simple Questions • Ask simple open ended questions you know they can answer. Clues • Give visual or verbal clues related to your requests.

Communication Techniques TONE OF VOICE • Friendly • Not bossy SPEED PITCH • Slow • Deeper is better • Not pressured

Communication Techniques Task Short Breakdown Simple Message Ask them to Will they • Give it Choices • Give a help try? one step at • About short • Ask them • Ask if they a time what the message to help will give it • ONLY person can about you do a try ASK: do what’s something “Are you happening ready to…” if you’re willing to come back later.

Communication Techniques Use Familiar Objects Friendly Interactions Know Who the Person • Photo Albums • Take it Slow Was • You will have same • Talk to the person • Values conversations again • Who is Important to • Act interested and Them be friendly. They are doing the Don’t Correct their Acknowledge their best they can! Stories Emotions • Their tools are • It’s their reality • “I can see this • They can’t come to makes you happy, limited. yours sad, etc.”

Communication Techniques Be a If what Back off detective you’re 15 and give Decide and doing is minutes them what to do determine NOT space & differently later. unmet working – time. needs. STOP!

Techniques on Getting them to do an Activity When is a bad time to ask? • Know when to ask if they want to do an activity. Variety of Activities • Know the types they like and have them available. Start the Activity • You start and they will join in. Ask for their help • Include them with your activities Don’t ask, just do. • Begin the activity and bring them along.

Techniques on Getting them to do an Activity All Tasks are Activities • Remember, any task you do with your client is an activity. Keep it Simple • Activities with just 1-2 steps Mistakes Happen • Stay calm • Ignore them Trial and Error • Try, try again. • Learn from your mistakes Each client is different • Individualize your approach & activities Evaluate, Learn & Revise • Look back on each interaction • Revise your approach.