How does someone with dementia feel?

Dementia is a complex condition that affects each person differently. A diagnosis can have a very big impact and bring on an array of emotions for the person affected and their loved ones. When initially diagnosed, it is normal to feel a variety of emotions that will include shock, anger, grief and sometimes, relief – relieved to know your condition is and to be able to plan ahead. As dementia is a collection of symptoms and a very personalised experience, it is impossible to completely understand what dementia feels like or how someone with dementia feels. However, there are symptoms that are more common than others. In the early stages of dementia, a person will be aware of the symptoms of the condition but as the condition progresses, they will have little to no awareness of the condition and the impact it has.

Emotional

People with dementia will have less control over how to express themselves as they experience changes in their emotional responses. Emotions such as anger, aggression, crying or even laughing inappropriately are some common emotional reactions and in some cases these emotions can be heightened. It is important to remember that these behaviours are caused by the condition and out of the person’s control. They themselves, can find these behaviours frightening and will need reassurance. Stay calm and avoid confrontation if they are behaving in an aggressive way and try to steer their concentration on other things.

Cognitive

Symptoms that affect someone cognitively are often the ones that alert a person with dementia or their loves ones to the condition. These include the ability to concentrate, struggling to find the right words to say, memory loss and difficulty in reasoning and decision-making. These changes bring about a lot of stress as even small daily living tasks such as shopping can be affected as decisions are harder to make. As the condition progresses, someone with dementia will not be able to recognise their loved ones and lose their verbal communication skills. Try being tactful and help the person find the answers themselves patiently, encourage them to talk about the things they enjoy and offer general reassurance.

Physical

Similar to how each person can have a variety of symptoms, physical effects can also manifest differently and at varying times or progressions. These can start with pacing, fidgeting and as the condition progresses, problems may present when doing simple tasks and difficulty walking. This can be extremely distressing, particularly as the person may need growing support with their personal care. Try to give them something to occupy their hands with when fidgeting and having a routine will help distract them.

Self-esteem

As their ability to control their emotional, cognitive and physical skills decreases, living with dementia can lead to a loss of self-confidence. This is as they will no longer trust their own abilities and judgement. When this occurs, it is important to offer them encouragement, celebrate all the positives no matter how small or big as those with high self-esteem cope better with chronic conditions.

How can Cavendish Homecare help?

As one of the leading providers of private dementia homecare in the London and the home counties, we take great pride in offering superior levels of service, care and support to people living with dementia. At Cavendish Homecare we can help support you and your loved ones with our expertise in delivering dementia care at home. We know that being diagnosed with Dementia can have a huge emotional, social, and psychological effect on both the person suffering and their family. Therefore we ensure specialist care in the comfort of one’s own home.

Contact or email us info@cavendishhomecare.com to see how we can assist you.