Day 2 - Remember Dementia In November

#RememberDementiaInNovember

 

Day 2 (11/4) – #Gomukhasana or #CowFacePose by @cavesyoga (Pip)

My sponsor related items I am wearing are the Alzheimer’s Association purple t-shirt and silicone awareness bracelet & heart bracelet on my right wrist (all part of my prize package); also on my right wrist is a beautifully crafted #hematite and #lapislazuli bracelet from @malas_by_  on my left wrist there is a lovely bracelet from @dazzle.dream. To assist in my bind, I am using my #DuddharaStrap from @yogasloth (Anna is both a host and sponsor!).  In the background, I have some other items from our fabulous list of sponsors.  And as always I am on my @liforme #yogamat (they are not a sponsor, but I adore this mat!!)

! This helps to balance both hemispheres of the brain and the third eye chakra

#DementiaAwareness – Dementia: Top 10 Most Important Early Symptoms (Click on link in my bio)       

See @yogasloth (Anna) for Day 3’s (Saturday, 11/5) pose tomorrow night.

 AWARENESS

Day 2 – Dementia: Top 10 Most Important Early Symptoms

1. Memory issues that make daily living difficult, such as:  remembering “important dates and events; the route taken on well-traveled journeys; where you’ve left important paperwork; names and faces of friends, neighbors, and work colleagues” (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 19).

2. Problems executing plans and solving problems.  Some examples of things a person with dementia experience, they may:  “become confused using a debit card, credit card, or checking account; lose track of what their bank statement or credit card statement shows; have difficulty paying bills or filing taxes; become confused while trying to put gas in the car (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, pp. 19-20).

3. Difficulty with words and not being able to find the right one.  This problem brings with it frustration and problems communicating with people. That can also lead to a lack of the person wanting to be social. Also, trying to concentrate and follow conversations when there is too much noise or the din of other people talking make it hard for a person with dementia to focus and follow the exchange (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 20).

4. Dates, times, and places.  With dementia in the beginning stages, a person gets lost in time or knows they have something to do at a specific time, but get the location or what they are supposed to be doing wrong (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 20).

5. Lack of good judgment.  Problems with a person buying items they do not need, or falling victim to telephone or TV commercial sales.  Also, not only financial misjudgments, but not being able to determine what type of clothing to wear for the weather is a common problem for those with early dementia (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 20).

6. “Visuospatial difficulties” can be a safety concern if the person is not able to gage their physical presence in relation to where they are and what they are doing; such as walking up steps or sitting into a chair. With this problem, falling is common along with fractures.  A more serious issue would be a person having problems and continuing to drive (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 21).

7. Forgetting where items are placed.  Losing a purse or wallet, phone, or keys…we all have had this happen.  Typically, we can go back and figure out where the item is located.  People with dementia aren’t able to do this and they also start to put things in odd places that have no rhyme or reason, like keys in the refrigerator (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 21).

8. Mood shifts. Those with dementia can experience mood changes:

Often rapidly switching between extremes of sadness, fear, and anger.  Low moods and depression are also extremely common in dementia.  At times it can be hard to work out whether the symptoms of dementia are causing the depression or vice versa (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 21).

9. Losing interest in normal daily activities.  “People with dementia may lose interest in taking part in their usual activities altogether and repeatedly need prompting about what they should be doing or simply to join in with what friends or family are doing” (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p. 21).

10. Changes in personality. 

A number of different changes are possible here, and not all people who are developing dementia will change in the same way.  In fact, often what changes is their normal behavior, so a reserved and quiet person may become flirty and disinhibited, whereas the life and soul of many an extrovert may become withdrawn and reclusive.  Common changes include becoming: confused, suspicious, withdrawn, angry, or sexually disinhibited  (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, pp. 21-22).

   

References

American Geriatrics Society (AGS). (2016). Alzheimer's & dementia for dummies. Hoboken, NJ:

           John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (Published simultaneously in Canada)