Dementia Action Week runs from 20–26 September 2021. Its campaign, ‘A little support makes a big difference’, highlights that many people living with dementia can continue to live well for many years after their diagnosis.
Dementia is the leading cause of death for women and behind only heart disease as the leading cause of death overall in Australia. It affects nearly half a million people, a number that is set to double over the next 25 years.
People living with dementia will experience a progressive decline in cognitive functioning. This results in a gradual loss in their ability to perform day-to-day routines. Some will experience hallucinations or changes in their behaviour. In end stage dementia, they will experience a physical deterioration with loss of ability to speak, move and eat.
‘Despite the grim statistics, there’s much that can be done to improve the diagnosis and treatment of people living with dementia,’ says HealthPathways Clinical Editor, Dr Hilton Koppe.
Dr Koppe points to the comprehensive HealthPathway Dementia and Cognitive Impairment, which can assist health professionals to assess and manage people living with various forms of dementia.
He also has a special interest in dementia through his role with Dementia Training Australia (DTA), educating GPs and practice nurses to help broaden their knowledge and increase their confidence in supporting people living with dementia.
DTA’s GP specific resources include links to podcasts as well as on-demand webinars and education modules and templates for GP management plans.
Dr Koppe has collaborated with general practitioners Marita Long and Steph Daly to produce a fortnightly podcast series Dementia in Practice. They share their professional and personal experiences with dementia through conversations with a range of interesting guests.
‘We like this idea of speaking to people’s hearts as well as their minds,’ he said. ‘When people think of dementia they think about memory loss, quite rightly, but dementia’s much more than that, because there’s progressive global brain deterioration and it’s a terminal illness.
‘We’re trying to expand people’s knowledge about it and reduce the stigma. While there’s no cure, early diagnosis and management does lead to better outcomes.
‘It’s possible to slow the progression of dementia, especially if it’s diagnosed early, through measures that in general practice we’re used to doing, like attention to physical activity, blood pressure, cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.’
He said it was also important to encourage social engagement and ‘the things that stimulate neuronal connections’.
‘It’s a journey for the person who’s got dementia as well as their family and carers, and everyone’s journey is different,’ Dr Koppe said.
One area often overlooked is people making their wishes known about their future care at a time when they’ve still got capacity. This can be done with appropriate advance care directives and plans, and legal documents..
‘It’s so much better for the family and carers if there’s a clear direction from the person with dementia about what kind of decisions they’d like made on their behalf,’ Dr Koppe said.
As well as raising awareness, Dementia Action Week aims to clear up misconceptions about dementia, eliminate discrimination and provide information and tips to encourage all Australians to increase their understanding of the illness.
There’s also a strong focus on supporting and celebrating the carers of people living with dementia.
Mid and North Coast HealthPathways
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