dementia

Question 1

Dementia

Answer 1

is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses, which cause a progressive decline in a person’s mental functioning. It is a broad term which describes a loss of memory, intellect, social skills and normal emotional reaction.

Question 2

types of dementia

Answer 2

Degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, Picks
Disease) (About 50% of cases)
◦ Vascular Dementia (e.g. Multi-infarct Dementia).
Stepwise deterioration. (20-30% of cases)
◦ Anoxic Dementia (e.g. Cardiac Arrest)
◦ Traumatic Dementia

Question 3

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 3

• A progressive, degenerative disease.
• Symptoms include loss of memory,
difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and
changes in mood and behaviour. People
may think these symptoms are part of
normal aging but they aren't

 One or more of the following cognitive disturbances:
 aphasia (language disturbance)
 apraxia (impaired ability to carry out motor
activities despite intact motor function)
 agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects
despite intact sensory function)
 disturbances in executive functioning (i.e.,
planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting)

Question 4

Symptoms of Dementia may include:

Answer 4

◦ Memory loss that affects day-to-day function.
◦ Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
◦ Problems with language.
◦ Disorientation of time and place
◦ Poor or decreased judgment.
◦ Problems with abstract thinking
◦ Misplacing things.
◦ Changes in mood and behaviour.
◦ Changes in personality.
◦ Loss of initiative.

Question 5

communication

Answer 5

 Body language
 Environmental awareness aids communication
 identify yourself and address the person by name
 Does the person with dementia have hearing or sight
difficulties?
 Make sure you have the person’s attention
 Speak slowly, calmly and distinctly.
◦ Speak in a dignified manner
- Use simple, direct statements and information
 If you do not understand what they have said you can ask them to repeat it.

Question 6

sundowning

Answer 6

is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s also known as “late-day confusion.” If someone you care for has dementia, their confusion and agitation may get worse in the late afternoon and evening. In comparison, their symptoms may be less pronounced earlier in the day.

Question 7

4 stages of dementia

Answer 7

Stage 1
• Mild memory lapses
• Difficulty using correct word
• Decreased attention span
• Disinterest in surroundings
• Depression

Stage 2
• More obvious memory lapses esp. short term
• Disorientated in time
• Confabulating – making up stories to explain memory loss
• Loss of ability to recognize familiar faces, objects, places and
environment
• Loss of impulse control is common
• Behavioural manifestations e.g. agitation
• Psychotic manifestations e.g. delusions, illusions and
hallucinations

Stage 3
• Total disorientation to person, place and
time
• Aprasia – impairment in the ability to
perform purposeful activity or use objects
properly
• Visual Agnosia – inability to recognize
objects by sight
• Dysgraphia – difficulty communicating in
writing
• Wandering is common

Terminal Stage
• Severe mental and physical
deterioration
• Total incontinence

Question 8

Anomia is..

Answer 8

• Inability to name objects e.g. difficulty finding the right
word
• Will recognise word if offered
• May be able to describe the object
• May recognise object if able to see
• May recognise object if able to touch

Question 9

Paraphasia is…

Answer 9

• Using an incorrect word but has some connection to the right word, either phonetically or functionally e.g. ‘purse’ for ‘nurse’, ‘axe’ for ‘hammer’

Question 10

Circumlocution is..

Answer 10

• Talking around a topic and becoming sidetracked

Question 11

Echolalia is..

Answer 11

• Repeating the last phrases or words that are spoken to them

Question 12

Perseveration is..

Answer 12

• Persistent repetition of the same verbal or motor
response to varied stimuli or continuance of activity after
cessation of the causative stimulus. Can be vocal e.g.
saying ‘peanuts’ in answer to all questions