Up Close and Personal with Dementia

Tim England, a local demential champion was my guest in the studio today to talk about Dementia.

What it is - a condition, a syndrome, a collection of conditions that cause distress. It is epitomised by confusion.
What it isn't - a disease, yet there are over 100 different diseases that can cause a clinical dementia.

We can have the same symptoms of dementia but are in fact a delirium - lack of sleep and not enough water, a mix of drugs - this can be treated.
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​How can we build more demential friendly communities?

Bring understanding

• Don't correct
• Don't argue
• Laugh with them
• Validate their world

​Music, dance and touch are very important to ​working with dementia patients.

What are we consuming that affects the neurochemistry of our brain? These re big questions - alcohol drugs, even the level of stress and constant chatter.

What can you do to stave this off?  Have a health lifestyle - these are our choices in our hands

​One of the things we spoke about off air and I can see we didn't come back to it on air was the element of touch in dementia care. When more and more homes have a policy of no touch, it withdraws a fundamental need for us as humans. Interestingly primary schools have the same policy. 

Useful sites

My Aged Care government website - ACAT
Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service - DBMAS 24 hour helpline 1800 699 799
Alzheimers Australia - 24 hour helpline and a good resource for fact sheets
Dr David Permutter - Inflammation - strong relationship to dementia
Triple H and Tagumpay Inspire Concert
Fusion Sleep in Your Car
Chatswood Sleeps Rough