This Week (17th-23rd May) is Dementia Awareness week, and people through the UK will be taking part in all sorts of events to raise awareness for this condition.
What is Dementia?
Dementia itself is not a singular disease or illness, but is an umbrella term used to describe lots of different types of conditions. These all have one thing in common; they attack and destroy the brain cells of individuals with dementia.
The cells that are affected are from specific parts of the brain which control your memory, thoughts and communication skills.
The most well known cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease and is incidentally also the most common cause. There are however other causes and it is also possible to have more than one type of dementia at the same time.
A good way of thinking about dementia is to compare it to cancer. With cancer there are lots of different causes and types of cancer including:
– Breast Cancer
– Testicular Cancer
– Lung Cancer
This is also true of dementia, with many varied conditions all being classed as a dementia.
5 things you should know about dementia (Alzheimer’s Society)
– Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
– Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
– It’s not just about losing your memory
– It is possible to live well with dementia
– There’s more to a person than the dementia
It is easy for the person with dementia to become lost in the eyes of others i.e. they end up seeing the type of dementia and the symptoms and not seeing the person. This should always be prevented.
Facts about dementia
– Dementia is not a normal part of the ageing process, however age is a risk factor i.e. the older you are the more likely you are to experience a dementia. About 1 in 6 people over 80 experience dementia however there are over 40,000 people under 65 with dementia in the UK.
– The total number of people with a dementia in the UK is approximately 850,000
– On average one person every three minutes will develop dementia
– Dementia can affect anyone of any age, culture, race, status, or gender. More than 25,000 people from black, Asian and minority groups have dementia in the UK.
– Each person’s experience of a dementia will be unique
If you are interested in participating in Dementia Awareness week please visit the Alzheimer’s Society Website where there are lots of ideas and events that you can get involved in.
This year you can help by simply liking, sharing or tweeting about the Dementia to raise awareness. Use the handle #DoSomethingNew and spread the word. Some celebrities have already showed their support by tweeting, such as Welsh international footballer and pundit Robbie Savage, and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Arlene Phillips.
Do you want to learn more about Dementia as a condition? NCC Home Learning offer a specific Positive Dementia Care course that aims to provide the learner with further knowledge on dementia as a condition.
Nick Cooper
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