Understanding Dementia
For information and resources please click on the links below.
Understanding Restlessness
Author: Dementia UK
This document covers restlessness in a person with dementia, including fidgeting, pacing and trying to leave the home. Possible causes of restlessness are hunger or thirst, being too hot or too cold, pain, bladder and bowel problems, boredom, or anxiety and distress. Included are ideas for carers that may help to cope with pacing, or with wanting to leave the house and what to do if the person leaves the house,
Sources of Support on page 10
Keywords: Dementia, Restlessness, Fidgeting, Pacing, Carers, Coping
Dementia guide. Living well after your diagnosis
Author: Alzheimer’s Society
Guide for people who have recently been diagnosed with dementia. Information about the treatments, support and services that are available, as well as information on how you can live with dementia. You can read about managing your money and how to plan for the future. There are tips on how to keep active and keep doing things that you enjoy.
Contents on page 9, Index on page 163
Keywords: Dementia, Dementia diagnosis, Every day life, Finances, Future, Keeping active, Enjoying life
Dementia Toolkit: living your life with hope [Long Version]
Guide to the ‘Living with Dementia’ Toolkit for People with Dementia and Their Carers
Author: IDEAL Research Project (Exeter University, Alzheimer’s Society, Innovations in Dementia)
Top Tips for staying safe and well, for staying connected and active, for keeping a sense of purpose and for staying positive, with Additional information on the IDEAL Research Project.
Keywords: Safety, Wellness, Keeping Active, Staying Positive, Purpose
Dementia Toolkit: living your life with hope [Short Version]
Author: IDEAL Research Project (Exeter University, Alzheimer’s Society, Innovations in Dementia)
Top Tips for staying safe and well, for staying connected and active, for keeping a sense of purpose and for staying positive
Keywords: Safety, Wellness, Keeping Active, Staying Positive, Purpose
Keeping safe when you care for someone with dementia
Author: Dementia UK
This document covers a range of issues around risk to personal safety, from identifying risks when caring to strategies for keeping safe. There is a focus on how to reduce risk in your environment whilst considering the needs of the person you care for and what to do in a crisis situation.
A link to the Herbert Protocol (a scheme that involves collecting important information about a vulnerable person to help police locate them if they are missing) leads to the protocol form. The authors address the usefulness of making a personal safety plan.
Keywords: Dementia, Risk Assessment, Safety, Carers, Children, Crisis, Herbert Protocol, Personal Safety Plan
Pain and Dementia
Author: Dementia Australia
This sheet provides information about appropriate assessment and management of pain in people with dementia. People with dementia may be less able to communicate to their carers that they are in pain, resulting in reduced quality of life. This can be avoided by looking out for non-verbal signs of pain and providing adequate treatment.
Keywords: Dementia, Pain, Communication, Quality of Life, Pain Assessment, Treatment, Carers
Tips for Better Communication
Author: Dementia UK
In this document the authors address common communication issues as well as communication challenges in a person with dementia. Different situations are discussed, e.g. how to help when a person keeps asking for their mum or dad; keeps talking about needing to go to work, even if they are no longer working; is having difficulty following conversations; is struggling to find the right words. Or, the person living with dementia says, “What are you doing in my house? Who are you?”
and many more situations.
Resources on page 11 and 12
Keywords: Dementia, Communication, Repetition, Conversation, Aggression
Trauma-Informed Care: Resources Guide
Author: Crisis Prevention Institute
A guide for professionals who deal with people who have experienced trauma. The guide includes key trauma-related concepts, guiding principles to a trauma-informed approach, de-escalation preferences form and tips for preventing re-traumatisation.
Keywords: Trauma, Re-traumatisation
Carers’ Stories: loss along the journey. Supporting People Living with Dementia
Author: Cruse Bereavement Support
A Guide for Carers Written by Carers and the reality of life as an unpaid carer for a person with dementia. The guide covers subjects like the diagnosis and consequently using the services. Dealing with family, loss and post bereavement. Includes useful sources of information and advice.
Keywords: Dementia, Carers, Diagnosis, Loss, Bereavement, Services
Coping with Distress.
Author: Dementia UK
In this document the authors address causes of distress in people with dementia, e.g. confusion, fear or anxiety, unmet needs. Changes in routine can also be a cause of distress as well as past life events which they relive. There are suggestions and techniques on how to avoid or reduce distress in advance, e.g. calming techniques if the person becomes distressed. Included are calming techniques for carers.
Resources on page 7
Keywords: Dementia, Distress, Confusion, Fear, Anxiety, Needs, Calming techniques, Carers
Dementia and Loss. Things to Try When Someone Stops Recognising You
Author: Dementia UK
In this document the authors look at what causes loss of recognition. They look at methods for prompting a person’s memory and give tips for when someone doesn’t recognise you. They suggest to find other ways to connect, e.g. playing some familiar music, watching a favourite film or TV programme, drawing, painting or craft, or doing some exercise together. There are also suggestions on how to support children or friends when someone stops recognising them.
Sources of Support on page 7
Keywords: Dementia, Loss, Recognition, Memory, Connecting, Children, Friends
What is Dementia?
Author: Dementia UK
A leaflet about dementia, explaining what dementia is and covering the different types of dementia. You also find information on how to get a diagnosis and advice on healthy lifestyles which might prevent dementia.
Keywords: Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Diagnosis, Prevention
Understanding Dementia: people with learning disabilities finding out and raising awareness together
Author: Sue Read, Beth Johnson Foundation
A leaflet coproduced with people with learning disabilities, exploring what dementia means, the impact on people and what can help.
This booklet is part of the Making a Difference Toolkit.
Keywords: Dementia, Learning Disability, Learning Disabilities, Clear Information, Easy Read, Coproduction
Understanding Dementia: a guide for professionals
Author: Sue Read, Beth Johnson Foundation
A short guide for professions focusing on dementia and people with learning disabilities.
This guide is part of the Making a Difference Toolkit.
Keywords: Dementia, Learning Disability, Learning Disabilities, Clear Information
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