2024-07-22 09:19:27
Dementias affect intellectual functions and this means loss of skills in daily life and increase dependence. On the occasion of World Brain Day, July 22, we offer several strategies to facilitate the recovery of those affected by Alzheimer’s as the disease progresses.
Maintaining the independence and independence of people with Alzheimer’s “slows down the process of cognitive deterioration, promotes self-esteem and improves their quality of life as long as possible,” said Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, diagnosis, treatment and research entity for neurodegenerative disease.
Already in the light phase With this dementia, those affected begin to have problems with more complex tasks such as choosing reactions or spending money, taking care of themselves or becoming anxious in familiar places.
They may also suffer from memory errors and forgetting recent events, problems learning new information, language limitations, and emotional changes.
Inside moderate manager, the need for help with daily tasks is increasing. People may have difficulty remembering simple, common facts, experience significant confusion in time and space, and often carry personal items around. In addition, in some cases they may not be aware of the disease and what it contains.
“Having dementia does not mean that a person needs help to do all the daily activities. Help must be structured according to people’s needs and it can be different to observe who does the tasks, remind them to do them, to tell them how to do it or provide direct help,” Dr. Pilar Cañabate , anthropologist and leader explained. of the Social Work area of the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona.
Keys to promoting independence in people with Alzheimer’s
Faced with this situation, family members and caregivers think about how to promote the independence of a person with Alzheimer’s without compromising their safety and ensuring basic activities such as eating, cleaning or taking medication.
Them first instruction proposed by experts Ace Alusaima Center Barcelona It is the constant monitoring of daily life activities such as shopping, cooking, cleaning the house, using appliances or money management, among others.
“Daily management of how they are formed will help us find out which daily activities need support and will facilitate the implementation of the second strategy,” they pointed out.
This second key It has exercises adapted to their abilities and needs at each stage of the disease.
For example, when shopping, it is advisable to periodically check the refrigerator to make sure there are enough supplies, and plan meals and make detailed shopping lists.
It also helps to observe the buying behavior and provide support if necessary.
In the case of cooking, it is important to maintain order in the pantry and refrigerator, plan meals using a recipe book, and provide simple tasks to the person with dementia, giving clear instructions on the process actions to follow.
Also, maintaining order in the kitchen and improving safety, for example with gas detectors, is important to prevent accidents.
“It’s important not to replace people too soon, because doing so can increase scientific decline. Sometimes, to be quick, we replace people, but that is not beneficial. Therefore, it is necessary to provide support in an adequate and progressive way, according to the needs of each moment to maintain their independence as long as possible,” explains Dr. Pilar Cañabate.
Tips for good mental health
On the other hand, the Spanish Association of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias (CEAFA) remembers that mental health is a dynamic process that can improve or worsen over time and requires care throughout life.
“It is worth remembering that mental health is not a static condition, but rather a dynamic process that can improve or worsen over time, “so it needs its care throughout life,” CEAFA emphasized on the occasion of the Day. Brain World.
element to the brain.
oxygen to the brain.
cognitive impairment.
concentration and reaction.
suffer from depression and anxiety.
The number of dementia
In Spain, more than 23 million people suffer from some type of vascular disease, with a prevalence 18% higher than the world average and 1.7% higher than the average for European countries, mainly due to aging of our population data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN).
Furthermore, they are also the main cause of disability in Spain, responsible for 44% of disability due to chronic illness and, last year, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), they are responsible for 14% of deaths, with diseases such as dementia (with more than 35,000 deaths, mainly due to Alzheimer’s disease) or stroke (with 26,000 deaths) leading the table of the main causes of death in Spain in 2023.
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