1. Caring for Person with dementia
Amrita Patil -Pimpale
Trainer ,EHA ; Researcher Univ of Northampton UK
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2. Introduction :
Echoing Healthy Ageing (EHA)
We are a social enterprise
providing consultation, education,
home care support
for people with dementia and their
Families.
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3. Dementia
 A term that doctor uses when someone has number of
problems with thinking and remembering.
 Problems interfere with person’s ability to do things
that they used to be able to manage.
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4. What is happening
 The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells.
 Nerve cells are specially designed for their function.
They are elongated with many tentacle-like projections
called dendrites that make connections with the
cells around them.
 Dementia is caused by loss of nerve cells in the brain.
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5. Dementia Symptoms

6. Dementia Symptoms

7. Dementia Symptoms

8. Dementia Symptoms

9. Old memories and New memories
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10. Practical Difficulties
•Reading /Writing
•Preparing food
•Driving or travelling alone
•Getting dressed
•Handling money
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11. Diagnosis of Dementia
Complicated to get an accurate picture of what is
occurring within the brain.
Today dementia is diagnosed by:
 ‘Mini Mental State Exam’(MMSE) A cognitive
assessment tool which establishes mental impairment.
 A physical examination. This can affect when and what
treatment is provided.
 Brain scans including MRI can detect signs of dementia
in the brain.
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12. What do you think ?
person with DEMENTIA
-------
PERSON with dementia
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13. Person’s brain is still there
Elizabeth Milwain -
elizabeth@brainscapes.co.uk

14. Tom Kitwood
A Person-Centred Understanding
D = N + P + B + H + SP
PERSON with dementia, not
person with DEMENTIA
 Neurological – nature of the underlying cause
 Personality – how we are, how we cope
 Biography – we are all shaped by our past
 Health – impact of other conditions
 Social Psychology – other people: help or hindrance?

15. What is the difference between a person with
dementia and ourselves?
 Think about cognitive function
Different
 Think about emotional function
 Think about physical needs
 Think about social needs
 Think about psychological need
All the Same
What Do You Think ?

16. Psychological Needs by Kitwood(1997)

17. Adaptation is the key
‘Normal life’ ‘Life in the
moment’
• Information • Emotion
• Thinking • Sensing
• Goals • Experiences
• Complex • Simple
• Fast • Slow
• Remembered • Enjoyed
• Variety • Consistency

18. Why do people turn away?
Feeling
Can’t fix it
inadequate
Might do
Frightening
‘The Wrong
& upsetting
Thing’

19. Recognition The person is acknowledged, called by name, eye contact or touch.
Negotiation The person is consulted about their preferences, being offered
choice makes you feel you can still have an impact on the way
things turn out. As human being we hate no being able to choose.
Collaboration Working with the person, not doing things to them. This is about
sharing your power. Helping someone to get dressed is assisting
them with the bits they find difficult, not taking over.
Play Having fun, enjoying yourself with the person with
dementia/depression. If you are having a good time they probably
will too
Celebration When the person achieves something celebrate with them.
Validation Acknowledging person’s emotion, taking it seriously and responding
to it.
Facilitation Assisting a person to achieve something they would not normally
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do alone.

20. Meaningful Activities and Therapies
Alternate therapies
 Music
 Gardening
 Occupational
 Pet therapies
 Reminiscence
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21. Reminiscence
 Meaningful pictures
 The reminiscence bump
 Getting the conversation started
-sight :family photographs
-sound
-touch
-smell
-taste
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22. Carer’s Role : Reality
 You feel you can help
 A sense of guilt for not helping your loved
one to maintain their quality of life
 Sense of increasing isolation and
commitment : More you do the more you are
needed .
 Caring can be hard, but it can also be
rewarding.
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23. Answer these….
1.Am I receiving or likely to receive
enough support from others in my own
life to help me be an effective carer?
2.Am I able to give the necessary time to
help and support my loved one
experiencing dementia ?
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24. Your Well Being
YES.
All well and Good.
NO.
How can you get support and arrange
you time?
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25. Your Well Being
 Making choices : Time. How much/Type?
 Help from family members
 Carers support groups
 Find time for yourself
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26. Your Well Being
To be effective carer the
first person you need to
look after yourself is
‘YOU’.
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27. Your Well Being
Sleep
Time for I am
me special
Look after
yourself
Positive
Relaxation thoughts
Meditation
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28. Attitude
‘’This is what I have to do’’
‘’I am doing, what I am
doing, because this is
what I want to do.’’
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29. Questions ?
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30. Email : amrita.p@echoinghealthyageing.com
Phone : 91 58 65 66 65
Website : www.echoinghealthyageing.com/
Like us on Facebook : EchoingHealthyAgeing
Follow us on Twitter : @EHAgeing
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