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

Signs of Dementia What Everyone Needs to Know

Presented by:

Gayleen Bradley Certified Dementia Specialist

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementia Types

Recognize the Symptoms Understand Behaviors Caused by Dementia Techniques to deal with behaviors

Learning Objectives

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

What is 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

Fact about Dementia

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

Regular Exercise

Six Steps for a Healthy Brain

Healthy Diet

Mental Stimulation

Quality Sleep

Stress Management

Active Social Life

Types of Dementia

• 60 to 80 percent of people have

Alzheimer’s who have dementia

• Symptoms are mild at first and get worse
• ver the years
• Short term memory is usually affected

first

Alzheimer’s

Types of Dementia

Other symptoms may include

Types of Dementia

Vascular

• Caused by strokes
• Symptoms can begin with poor judgment or trouble

planning, organizing and making decisions

• 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

Medications Infections

Alcohol Induced

Toxic & Metabolic Disorders

Head Injury

Depression

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

Types of Medications

Alzheimer’s 10 Warning 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

Changes in mood & personality

Know the 10 Signs

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgement Withdrawal from work or social activities

Anatomy of the Brain

Health Concerns that can Cause Behaviors

• Dehydration
• Malnourishment
• Depression
• Infections - UTI
• Pain
• Sight and Hearing Problems

Lose ability to navigate their world.

Too much stimuli is confusing and

• verwhelming.

Inability to understand what is being

communicated

to them. Lose ability to express their needs

As Dementia Advances…

Early Stage

• Feel they are having memory

lapses

• Forget familiar words or location
• f objects
• Hard time with math & paying bills
• Do not require any care at this point
• Become moody or withdrawn

Stages of Dementia

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

End Stage

Help with most or all ADLS Difficulty carrying

• n conversations

Lose ability to walk without assistance Trouble remembering to swallow

Stages of Dementia

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

All Behavior Has Meaning

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.

Does the Behavior Need to Stopped?

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!

The caregiver needs to find out what unmet needs are by being a good detective

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.

Step into Their World

Life Story

• What did they do for a living?
• Where did they grow up?
• Discuss family members

Redirect

• Quickly change the subject
• Change walking direction

Triggers

• Know their triggers & what soothes them
• Favorite food or drink?
• Pet Peeves

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.

Techniques to Use

TONE OF VOICE

• Friendly
• Not bossy

PITCH

• Deeper is better

SPEED

• Slow
• Not pressured

Communication Techniques

Short Message

• Give a

short message about what’s happening Simple Choices

• About

what the person can do Ask them to help

• Ask them

to help you do something Will they try?

• Ask if they

will give it a try Task Breakdown

• Give it
• ne step at

a time

• ONLY

ASK: “Are you ready to…” if you’re willing to come back

later.

Communication Techniques

Friendly Interactions

• Take it Slow
• Talk to the person

Know Who the Person Was

• Values
• Who is Important to

Them Use Familiar Objects

• Photo Albums
• You will have same

conversations again

• Act interested and

be friendly. Acknowledge their Emotions

• “I can see this

makes you happy, sad, etc.” Don’t Correct their Stories

• It’s their reality
• They can’t come to

yours They are doing the best they can!

• Their tools are

limited.

Communication Techniques

Be a detective and determine unmet needs. If what you’re doing is NOT working – STOP! Back off and give them space & time.

Decide what to do differently

15 minutes later.

Communication Techniques

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.

Techniques on Getting them to do an Activity

Photo Albums Newspapers & Magazines Puzzles Enjoy the Outdoors Go for a Walk Make Cookies Feed & Watch the Birds Listen to Music Fold Towels Hold a Baby Doll Set the Dinner Table Cut out Coupons Games

Types of Activities:

Moment by Moment