Dementia: A Growing Problem in Canada
Like any system in the human body, the cognitive and memory functions of the brain tend to deteriorate with advancing age. In certain cases, cognitive deterioration occurs due to abnormal degeneration of brain cells.This type of progressive deterioration in memory and thinking ability is termed as Dementia. The term ‘dementia’ isn’t a singular, specific disease but an overall term for a set of symptoms that may include memory loss, changes in mood, and difficulties with thinking, problem solving and language that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.
Sadly, the debilitating disease affects many Canadians, and its prevalence is growing in our communities, placing enormous pressure on families dealing with it and on the overall health system.
Although a small number of people in their 40s and 50s can develop dementia, most people living with dementia are over the age of 65 i.e. seniors.
Research from the Alzheimer Society of Canada points to some staggering statistics:
- 500,000+ people are living with dementia in Canada and this number is expected to nearly double (approx. 912,000) by 2030.
- 76,000 Canadians are diagnosed with dementia each year
- The annual cost of dementia to the Canadian healthcare system is about $10.4Bn
- 65% of those diagnosed with dementia over the age of 65 are women
While Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia resulting in about 70-80% cases, there are other types, such as, Vascular dementia (about 10% cases), Lewy Body dementia (about 5-8% cases), Frontotemporal dementia (about 2-3% cases) and mixed dementia (<2%). These types of dementia can have similar and overlapping symptoms.
Memory loss is the most commonly associated symptom of dementia, but in reality, it can cause a variety of symptoms including:
- Difficulty in comprehension, thinking and formulating sentences
- Difficulty in problem solving or language
- Confusion and disorientation including about time and place
- Reduction in ability to perform everyday activities
- Behavioural changes incl. a general lack of interest, repetition, suspicion or even agitation
As can be expected, the life of a senior dealing with dementia becomes challenging and stressful, and with increasing severity, as the disease progresses through its various stages.
In the early stages of dementia, seniors will often experience some forgetfulness and the occasional lapse in judgment but are able to remain independent and go about their activities of daily living (ADLs). Confusion worsens over time and can lead to hindrance in carrying out ADLs. It can impact the ability to remember appointments, PIN numbers, passwords, people’s names etc. and difficulty expressing themselves due to regression in vocabulary.
Towards the middle stages of dementia seniors can become disoriented. They may wander off, mistake the bedroom for the bathroom or may even forget their own house. They can forget to eat meals or take their medicine. In this stage, seniors may even start to neglect their personal hygiene. They may even become unable to recognize their loved ones. The inability to express themselves, to comprehend situations and the ineffective execution of tasks starts to take a toll often causing frustration, loss of interest and even agitation or aggression. In many cases, the confusion and other symptoms for a senior can become more pronounced towards the evening, a pattern that is termed as sun-downing.
The physical and mental functioning capacity for a senior gets extremely challenged in the later stages of dementia, with severe manifestation of many of the symptoms associated with the disease. In this stage seniors are often heavily reliant upon their families or other caregiving support for their daily activities.
There is no known cure for dementia yet. There are disease modifying drugs that have been used but with little success. The progressive nature of the ailment makes early detection crucial for effective management.
Unfortunately for many seniors, dementia is mistakenly passed-off by families as ‘forgetfulness related to aging’ often delaying diagnosis and the management of the disease. Diagnosing dementia and the stage it is at, is crucial to formulating practices and methods of effective management, including behavioral techniques, medication etc. to help improve the well being and safety for a senior.
Some approaches towards effectively managing dementia behavior include:
- A calm and patient demeanor in response to dementia, even during moments of aggression.
- Engaging conversations and participative activities to help a senior retain their identity / values.
- Setting up reminders in user friendly calendars or alarm clocks can help keep track of date and time, and other important tasks such as meals, medications, appointments etc.
- Identifying and promoting conversations and activities that help bring tranquility, reduce stress and effectively redirect a senior away from unhelpful behaviors.
- Encouraging physical activity and exercise to help retain and improve mobility and balance.
- Focus on maintaining a well-balanced, nutritious diet that is also rich in antioxidants
- Positive reinforcement and setting a senior up for success by assigning simple tasks and letting the senior take it to completion.
As can be imagined, these approaches need to be performed and reinforced on a regular, often daily basis for a senior. This can become a time consuming, pervasive, and draining endeavor for family members taking care of the senior. As humans we are geared to expect results from efforts put in and in dealing with dementia the lack of improvement can lead to feelings of defeat, guilt and being overwhelmed. Due to the constant demanding nature of dementia, families often benefit from the assistance of professional caregivers, to share responsibility in caring for a senior loved one and preventing feelings of being overwhelmed or burning out.
If you know of someone struggling with dementia, who could benefit from high quality, professional care, contact the care experts at Home Instead – available 24/7
Call (604) 432-1139
