SPOT THE EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA

CHRISTMAS is a time when we get to take a break from work and spend some much-needed quality time with our families.

But with many people getting together for the first time in months, it can also be a common time for noticing stark changes in a loved one.

According to Dementia UK, there’s a notable increase in people getting in touch for information on the disease over the Christmas period.

Here, John Ramsay, CEO of Shift 8 (the company bringing cutting-edge dementia care product Tovertafel to the UK), outlines common signs of the disease to keep in mind...

MEMORY LOSS

“WHILE anyone can be forgetful, it can become apparent when the loss of memory starts suddenly, or perhaps has grown worse over a year or so”, says John. “You may notice that your relative can recall a surprising range of facts or experiences from their earlier years, but will be forgetful about recent events.”

ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS OR RESTLESSNESS

JOHN’S father suffered from dementia. He recalls: “My dad had always enjoyed walking, but he started consistently walking with purpose up and down our local street all day long, from a very early stage. It can often be an exhausting task to try and keep a loved one with these symptoms safe.”

MOOD SWINGS

“UNDERSTANDABLY, frustrations can come from feeling an emotion, but being unsure from where it originated,” explains John.

“As hard as it might be, it is important to try and avoid arguing and remind yourself that their anger stems from a frustration they cannot control.”

ROUTINE IS KEY

“CHRISTMAS can be a challenging time of year for those living with dementia, as they are often in an unfamiliar home, surrounded by people who aren’t part of their daily routine,” says John. “This can be overwhelming.”

LOSS OF SUBTLETIES OF LANGUAGE

“LINKED to a change in memory, those who have dementia can have issues with talking, often getting lost in conversations, or struggling to recall the right words when discussing an idea.”

For advice or support call the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or visit dementiauk.org