Recently, I have been made aware of a scheme called Dementia Friends.
This a scheme aimed at all health professionals, in recognising and becoming Dementia Friends.
This scheme is all about raising awareness of Dementia, and how, as we are living longer, more and more people will be affected by Dementia.
Dementia is difficult for some people to talk about. And it can be difficult to recognise the signs and symptoms of dementia. However, through Dementia Friends, the various organisations involved are hoping that more people will talk about it. They are hoping that through this, those with dementia do not have to go through it alone. No one deserves to go through any difficult time alone, let alone a debilitating condition such as dementia.
As I am sure you may know, there are varying forms of dementia.
The links below will take you to varying websites with information on dementia.
We recently had several dementia friends come into our university to talk about the scheme and what it meant. Not just about what it is, but how this helps those out there affected by dementia.
Most people will know someone or have someone in their family or close friendship circle affected by dementia. It may not be directly, but it will have affected them. Dementia Friends is aiming to break down those barriers and unite all health care professionals (as well as others!) into helping those people affected by dementia. Dementia can be scary for people and it can be overwhelming, So for those people they need to know they are not alone. They need to know that there is support out there and people are not just standing by.
Dementia Friends were amazing at coming in and educating us on the various ways you can help someone with dementia. It is important for us to know as health care professionals the difference you can make to someone with dementia just by having that little extra understanding through knowledge and awareness.
For example, were you aware that with certain types of dementia, their colour awareness and depth perception is altered? So a black mat on the floor can look like a great big hole? So much so, the individual will not walk across it for fear of falling in.
I would highly recommend anyone to attend these workshops and to be aware of those living in their communities with dementia. That little bit of help, such as walking across the mat first, or even moving it out the way, will make such a difference to that person. And that help will be appreciated. Not only by that person, but their relatives, their carers and those working with the person.
Why cover this in a learning disability blog?
Did you know that people with Down's Syndrome are more likely to develop a type of dementia?
This extract below was taken from the Alzheimers website.
Down's syndrome and dementia
When people with Down's syndrome develop dementia, this is usually due to Alzheimer's disease. However there is a growing awareness that people with Down's syndrome can develop other forms of dementia.
Studies have shown that the numbers of people with Down's syndrome who have Alzheimer's disease are approximately:
1 in 50 of those aged 30 to 39 years
1 in 10 of those aged 40 to 49 years
1 in 3 of those aged 50 to 59 years
more than half of those who live to 60 or over.
These numbers indicate a greatly increased risk for dementia compared with the general population. Studies have also shown that in later life almost all people with Down's syndrome develop the changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease, although not all develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's. The reason for this has not been fully identified. However, it is known that the protein that causes brain cell damage in Alzheimer's disease is produced from a gene on chromosome 21. People with Down's syndrome have an extra copy of this chromosome, which may largely explain their increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Please have a look at that website in relation to learning disabilities. Although these workshops were fantastic, I do believe that it should be discussed more in relation to learning disabilities and how this can affect those more, due to their learning disability. I have come into contact with a lot of people with dementia. And with those who have a learning disability and dementia, it can be difficult. Staff, carers etc may not have that training. They may find it difficult caring for that person. Understanding, coping, support, it is needed. And more importantly, the individual with a learning disability needs to know and understand what dementia is to them.
Thus, as a Learning Disability Nurse, it is important you are aware of those with dementia, and how to support them. Those with learning disabilities and any type of dementia may need that extra support and understanding due to their differing communication needs or their cognitive capacity and abilities. This is why learning disability nurses are so important.
And I may have stated this already, but please be proud of the career you have chosen and the people you support. You are their advocate, you're their voice. And everyone deserves, and has the right, to be heard.
As it is known in Learning Disability circles, Together We Are Better.
And together, we can be the change that is needed.
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