Establishing a routine and simplified communication can be a timely intervention in dealing with people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, doctors said on Thursday.
September 21 is observed as World Alzheimer’s Day. Several hospitals, clinics and mental health institutes conducted awareness campaigns on the disease
on Wednesday and Thursday.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts slowly and worsens progressively. The most common and early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. With time, the symptoms can include disorientation, mood swings and self-neglect.
Many people tend to confuse Alzheimer’s with dementia. But doctors pointed out that while dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability, Alzheimer’s is a specific disease and the most common cause of dementia.
“Alzheimer’s disease is like a hidden iceberg affecting 7.4 per cent of the elderly population of India over the age of 60 years,” said Nodee Chowdhury, consultant neurologist, ILS Hospitals Howrah.
“The early symptoms can be forgetfulness — like misplacing things, lack of attention and decreased social interaction. Mood issues like anxiety and depression also accompany this disease. When advanced, Alzheimer’s disease can produce problems with speech in the form of forgetting words or replacing words with similar but wrong words,” he said.
Aparupa Ojha, clinical psychologist at Monoshij, an institute for mental health support, listed the following “interventions” that would help caregivers.
- Establish a routine: Create a daily schedule to eliminate confusion.
- Simplify communication: Ask one question at a time, speak slowly, and use clear, basic language. Use motions while maintaining eye contact.
- Use visual aids: Visual cues like photos or written notes can improve recall and communication.
- Safety precautions: Make sure their surroundings are secure by eliminating trip risks and, if necessary, adding locks or alarms.
- Use a whiteboard with crucial information as a memory help, or mark drawers and cupboards.
- Engage in familiar activities: Encourage the person to take part in hobbies such as gardening or drawing.
On Wednesday, Dignity Foundation, an NGO, announced the launch of dementia day care centre in Dhakuria.
The centre should be operational after the Puja, said Gopal Srinavasan, trustee of the foundation.
“The centre will provide comprehensive care to patients. It will be open from 10am to 4pm,” he said.