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A prominent dementia specialist has shared three essential approaches for having an honest conversation with a loved one who might be exhibiting early signs of dementia.
Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer. Figures suggest around a million people are thought to have the condition in the UK.
Yet it’s estimated that a third of those currently struggling with dementia are undiagnosed—including some who are reluctant to seek a diagnosis.
Michelle McGowan, an Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, has advised the public to engage in this difficult discussion and urge their loved ones to consult a GP using three strategies termed ‘acting’, ‘explaining’, and ‘supporting’.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘There are over 200 types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
‘Each type of dementia has a unique set of symptoms which can make identifying whether someone may be exhibiting signs of dementia, difficult.’
The ‘acting’ technique involves initiating the conversation at a moment when a loved one becomes unexpectedly upset or frustrated with themselves, according to Ms. McGowan.
“This moment can serve as an opportunity to discuss the symptoms they are facing and whether they want assistance in seeking help.”
Statistics indicate that over a million individuals are believed to have dementia in the UK, yet approximately a third of those with the condition may be undiagnosed.
Explaining—the second technique—involves pointing out that troubling symptoms could have many different causes.
This is preferable, experts say, to focusing on fears it may be dementia. Instead, it can encourage the person to seek advice from their GP.
Approaching it this way ‘makes it less daunting than suggesting they seek a diagnosis of dementia,’ she added.
A prompt diagnosis for any potential health condition, including dementia, can ensure loved ones get the right support sooner.
‘It’s natural for people to be reluctant to see a GP or to be afraid of getting a dementia diagnosis,’ Ms McGowan told the Daily Mail.
“Despite the initial overwhelming feeling, early diagnosis is crucial as it allows both the individual with dementia and their family to make future plans, ensuring their preferences remain central to all care-related decisions.”
The third technique, supporting, can take a variety of forms but may include accompanying loved ones to appointments or simply being there to talk.
‘Seeking support can be tough, and people will appreciate help in arranging the appointment and attending it,’ she added.
Around 900,000 Brits are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017
‘You can also help them to keep a symptom diary which will support a healthcare professional to make an accurate and timely diagnosis.’
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of dementia, which then worsen over time.
Memory problems, including failing to recognize beloved spouses, partners, children and siblings, can take different forms.
Some relatives report that while a loved one with dementia can no longer retrieve a name or an exact relationship, they still seem happy to see them.
US researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have also pointed to a startling phenomenon known as ‘paradoxical lucidicity’.
It occurs when a loved one with a progressive neurodegenerative disease, like dementia, experiences a sudden, brief, and unexpected return of mental clarity, communication, and awareness.
They could, for instance, come up with a name, say a few appropriate words, crack a joke, make eye contact or sing along with a radio.
Though common, these episodes generally last only seconds and don’t mark a real change in the person’s decline, scientists say.
Efforts to recreate the experiences tend to fail.
Experts have also increasingly begun investigating how family members respond when a loved one no longer appears to know them.
Dr Pauline Boss, a family therapist and emeritus professor at the University of Minnesota, developed the theory of ambiguous loss decades ago.
This, she claimed can involve physical absence—as when a soldier is missing in action—or psychological absence, including nonrecognition because of dementia.
If you need advice or support on living with dementia, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org
