Dementia… Care with Understanding

Dementia… Care with Understanding

In a society where the elderly population is rapidly increasing, dementia has become a significant issue impacting the quality of life for both patients and their families. Dementia is not just about forgetting; it also involves changes in thinking, decision-making, behavior, and emotions. Patients often cannot perform daily activities on their own and require close care. Therefore, caring for dementia patients requires understanding and appropriate management from caregivers and families.

This article presents essential information about dementia, including statistics, causes, and care methods, to help caregivers and families effectively manage the challenges that arise. Caring with understanding will help improve the quality of life for patients and reduce long-term stress for caregivers.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, reasoning, language, and environmental awareness. It causes cognitive, decision-making, behavioral, and emotional issues, impacting daily life to the extent that many patients eventually require close care.

Dementia Statistics

Currently, the aging population in Thailand is increasing, leading to a rise in dementia cases. Epidemiological studies show that out of 100 people aged 65 and older, 5 may develop dementia. This rate increases with age; among those who live to 80, up to 20% or 1 in 5 may develop dementia.

Common Causes of Dementia

1. Dementia due to direct brain degeneration, or Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause, with patients initially experiencing brain shrinkage, particularly in memory-related areas. Later, other brain regions atrophy, affecting thinking, decision-making, communication, and behavior. Early detection can slow disease progression, making it important to pay attention to frequent forgetfulness in the elderly. If memory lapses cause problems, such as losing items often or repeatedly asking the same questions, medical consultation is recommended. Observations from close relatives are crucial as patients often do not realize they are forgetting things and may believe they are functioning normally.

   Research indicates that globally, Alzheimer’s accounts for approximately 60-70% of all dementia cases .

2. Vascular Neurocognitive DisorderAs people age, they often develop chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension, which increase the risk of small brain vessel rupture or blockage, affecting brain tissue function. This can impair thinking, memory, and perception.

   Studies show that 15-20% of dementia cases result from vascular issues .

Besides these two main causes, dementia can also arise from treatable conditions such as thyroid hormone imbalances, alcohol consumption, hydrocephalus, brain hemorrhage or tumors, brain infections like syphilis or AIDS, and deficiencies in essential vitamins like B12.

Caring for Dementia Patients

1. Understand Dementia: Gaining knowledge through books, articles, radio, TV, the internet, or consulting doctors helps in managing the condition effectively.
2. Understand the Patient: This is applicable to patients with mild dementia who can still understand and accept explanations about their condition.
3. Address the Most Severe Issues First: Focusing on the most significant problems can simplify patient care.
4. Ensure Caregivers Get Enough Rest: Continuous care can lead to fatigue and stress, affecting long-term care quality.
5. Use Instinct and Imagination: Flexibility is important, such as allowing harmless preferences like wearing a hat to bed.
6. Maintain a Positive and Fun Environment: A cheerful attitude from caregivers positively influences patient care.
7. Consistent Care Routine: Regular schedules help patients learn gradually. Simplifying the environment, such as avoiding frequent furniture changes, can help.
8. Communicate Regularly: Explain activities step-by-step to the patient, involving them in decisions when possible.
9. Avoid Discussing Patients in Their Presence: Especially avoid criticism, and remind others to do the same.
10. Use Identification Tags: Patients should wear ID tags indicating memory issues and contact information, reducing the hassle of finding them if they wander off.
11. Encourage Activities: Physical activity and involvement in family activities help patients feel engaged and maintain health, but avoid over-stimulation.

These recommendations aim to help caregivers and families provide effective and compassionate care for dementia patients.

References

1. Alzheimer’s Association. (2021). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
2. Smith, E. E., & Markus, H. S. (2020). New treatment approaches to modify the course of disease in cerebral small vessel diseases. Stroke, 51(11), 3725-3732.