Raising Awareness of Alzheimers and Dementia
I was recently commissioned by Mobility Plus to share their hidden facts about Alzheimers and Dementia and it is something that I feel needs raising awareness so I was happy to share.
I think Alzheimer’s and Dementia is a horrible illness that not only affects the person with the disease but also the people that are close such as friends and family. I didn’t realise that nearly 520,000 people in the UK alone are suffering from Alzheimer’s which is such a high figure. I worked in a care home when I was a teenager and it was so upsetting to see the residents that had this disease, if only they could find a cure.
I have a terminal illness and know how devastating it can be, but to lose memories and control over your thoughts and actions is just something that is so scary to think about.
I am not sure if it is because I am now more aware of the disease or the fact that more people are being diagnosed but it seems to be in the media quite a lot, which I think is a good thing.
I am a huge fan of Casualty which is a TV drama and they currently have a story line where one of their long running and most loved characters has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and she seems so young to be suffering from this illness, but it is not just an olds persons disease. There are people as early as in their 30s that are being diagnosed with the disease which is just heart-breaking.
There are some signs that need to be looked into further, if you or someone you know are suffering any of these symptoms it does not necessarily mean you have this disease, but I would seek further advice from a medical professional and it could also be symptoms to other conditions that could be treated.
1. Memory Lose that affects your daily life
2. Challenges in planning or problem solving
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or in leisure
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality (Source : Alz Org )
If you would like to know more about Alzheimer’s and Dementia then I recommend reading this guide and if you have any concerns please do reach out to a professional such as your GP.
2 Comments
Very interesting read. My family has been touched by this horrible disease, and as stated in the article, it affects the loved ones of the sufferer too. It is such an unpredictable disease with no two days the same. I cycled to Paris to raise funds for The Alzheimer’s Society and only hope they will find a cure someday.
Wow a bike ride to Paris, how amazing and well done for raising funds, charities like this still need every penny. I think nearly everyone’s family has been touched in some way or another.