Dementia
A diagnosis of dementia can come as a shock and be a worrying and upsetting time for patients, family and friends.
If you are worried about your memory we recommend you visit your GP straight away to seek an early diagnosis. It might not be dementia but if it is there are many benefits to both patients and carers:
- Early diagnosis helps to avoid premature or unnecessary care home or hospital admissions. It allows those living with dementia to live independently in their own home for longer which enhances their quality of life.
- Where appropriate patients can receive the correct treatment earlier which is more effective.
- Patients, carers and family members can get hold of essential help and advice giving them confidence to plan for the future. They can also apply for relevant financial benefits.
- Patients are able to receive the support they need e.g. from social services, day centres, carer support groups and much more.
Prevention however is much better than a cure. The risk of dementia can be reduced and the process of deterioration slowed down by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can achieve this by eating healthily, exercising, staying mentally and socially active and managing your stress.
East Riding Alzheimers Society
The local Alzheimer’s society runs a number of services that provide information and offer help and support. For more information click this link to visit the East Riding Alzheimers Society website.
East Riding Dementia Action Alliance
We are a member of the East Riding Dementia Action Alliance, working together to reduce stigma and raise understanding of dementia. Our aim is to enable people living with dementia to continue doing the things that they enjoy within their own community for longer.
Working together, the Dementia Action Alliance and Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (deep) have created a special guide to identify the words they believe should never be used to describe dementia or people with dementia. Dementia words matter: Guidelines on language about dementia.
Why not become a dementia friend?
Anybody can become a Dementia Friend. It’s about understanding a bit more about dementia and the small things you can do to help people with the condition.
Watch the video to find out more:
Living with dementia
The Alzheimer’s Society has published Turning Up the Volume: unheard voices of people with dementia. This report brings together views of more than 3,500 people with dementia, carers and the public on what it is like to live with dementia. The information is taken from a series of in-depth interviews and face-to-face and online surveys. It provides an insight into the gap between the things that people living with dementia need to live well and their day-to-day reality.
The Herbert Protocol - helping to locate missing people
Do you have a friend or relative who is elderly, suffers with dementia or has other mental health issues which can leave them confused, lost or disorientated?
Nothing is more worrying or distressing than if someone you care about goes missing or doesn’t return home when expected - and for people living with or caring for someone with dementia or other mental health conditions, this may be quite a common occurrence.
We do all we can to help locate missing people and get them home safely as quickly as possible – particularly when they are vulnerable. For more information that will help us start the search straight away, please click here.