Bringing Awareness to Dementia

Published on September 16, 2022

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Each September, people from around the globe unite to challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
World Alzheimer's Month raises awareness, helping to create more dementia-friendly communities and gives a voice to people living with dementia.

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect how well our brains work. As people age the chances of developing dementia increases.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease – which around two thirds of people with dementia suffer.

The symptoms each person experiences depends on the parts of the brain that are affected. These can include changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality and emotions. These changes affect a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks and interfere with their everyday lives.

Dementia is progressive, which means that for most people the changes gradually spread through the brain and lead to the symptoms getting worse. Dementia is different for everyone – what people experience, and how quickly they are affected is unique to them. What they can do, remember and understand may change from day to day.

Whānau, friends and carers have been showing their support to dementia sufferers in Levin since 2015 with an annual Memory Walk. Around 200 people gather for the walk which concludes with shared refreshments and entertainment. The 2022 Memory Walk was held on Wednesday 7 September and was the first time since 2019 it has been able to go ahead, as the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Looking after yourself

It’s normal to feel a wide range of emotions after being diagnosed with dementia. You might feel shock, sadness, frustration, relief, embarrassment, anger and loss. Living with dementia is a big adjustment.

Here are some ways to look after yourself:

  • Be patient and kind to yourself; dementia can happen to anybody.
  • If you’re finding it hard to remember something, don’t worry – focus on something else.
  • Continue doing the things you can still do and enjoy and focus on how good that makes you feel.
  • Allow yourself to feel the way you’re feeling - good or bad. Tears can make you feel better, and laughter releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your body.
  • Share your feelings with trusted family / whānau members, or friends.
  • Try something new: whatever it is, finding a new activity you enjoy may make you feel better – and it will stimulate your brain.
  • Write it down - some people find it helps to record their feelings and experiences.

Caring for someone with Dementia

As symptoms vary among dementia sufferers and everyone’s journey is different, it can be difficult to prescribe a list of activities to do to support your loved one. But you can try the following to prevent and ease stress:

  • Try to maintain a familiar and consistent daily routine, but simplify or remove tasks that are becoming difficult.
  • Make changes to the immediate environment to make it more manageable. Limit noise and activity if that’s causing a problem.
  • Include them in activities and conversation so they feel part of the family or group.
  • Ensure they eat healthy meals with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Spend time outside in the sunshine every day.
  • Make sure they have something fun to do every day and have regular social contact.
  • Encourage regular exercise – this has a proven positive impact on depression, but ensure you include rest and relaxation periods each day.
  • Have realistic expectations of what they can do – expecting too much can make both them and their family / whānau frustrated, upset and gloomy.
  • Know when they are least fatigued and ‘at their best’ and do any important tasks then.

Where to get help

Alzheimers Society Manawatu is committed to supporting our community with a range of services for people living with dementia, their carers and their family / whānau. If you, or someone you love needs support, they are there to help.

Main Office: 642 Featherston Street, Palmerston North 4414
Phone: 06 357 9539
Email: manawatu@alz-man.org.nz
Website: alzheimersmanawatu.org
Instagram: @alzheimersmanawatu
Facebook: Alzheimers Manawatu