Dementia

Dementia, a progressive brain dysfunction, leads to a gradually increasing restriction of daily activities.  Dementia not only affects the person themselves but those that surround them as most people with dementia require care in the long-term.  The most well-known type is Alzheimer’s disease.

The first port of call should be the GP to get a diagnosis.  The unexplained behaviour may have nothing to do with dementia; the person you care for may have another illness which is producing similar symptoms.  Only by getting a diagnosis will you know what you are dealing with and what help is available to you. 

Dementia can affect young people as well as older people, it is described as ‘early onset dementia’ and can affect people as young as 35 years old.

If the person you are caring for has been diagnosed with dementia, what then?  At first you will probably feel alone not knowing which way to turn or where to go for help.  You will more than likely have a hundred and one questions going over and over in your mind.  Some of the things you may be concerned about:

• Telling friends and family, as the person you care about may well be forgetting who people are and their names
• Keeping them safe, they may forget where they live or how to cross the road
• Wondering how to care for them in the future, will you still be able to look after them at home?  If not where will they live?
• Looking after someone 24/7 is exhausting; watching their every move to ensure they are safe.  Or maybe he/she is following you around all the time, asking endless questions.  How can you get a break from all this?

Local support

• Find your nearest GP: They may well refer the person you care for to a Community Psychiatric Nurse CPN
• Oxfordshire County Council's Access Team can be contacted at 0845 050 7666. Staff will help you to contact the services you need. Hours are: Monday to Thursday, 8.30 am to 5pm; Friday, 8.30 am to 4pm. Fax: 01865 854443 access@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Out of hours emergency number: 0800 833408 (freephone)
• The Clive Project cares for and supports younger people with dementia and their family and friends throughout Oxfordshire
• Dementia Web: An all-age dementia information resource for Oxfordshire.
• DISC Dementia Information Service for Carers: Action number 0845 120 4048. DISC offers advice and information to carers of older people who have dementia.
• Specal A charitable organisation with an innovative approach to the care of people with Alzheimer’s: 01993 822129 Fax: 01993 824388 help@specal.co.uk.
• Alzheimer’s Society Abingdon & Vale of White Horse Branch 01235 205407; Banbury & District Branch 01295 750622;Oxfordshire 01865 876508. Email: AlzheimersOxford@aol.com
• Mind A network of mental health services. 01865 511702 Crisis Line 7 nights a week from 7pm to 1am Tel  01865 251152
• Oxfordshire carers' centres

National organisations

• Alzheimer’s Society Helpline 0845 300 0336
  
• Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, working to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress
  
• Alzheimer’s Disease International
  
• www.guidepoststrust.org.uk
  Advice about Alzheimer's, Learning Disability and Mental Health Issues 01993 772886

Free online training

• Log on to Care: free on-line training courses on dementia