Home Dementia statistics turn to be significant in Australia – Overview of the 7 stages of dementia

Dementia statistics turn to be significant in Australia – Overview of the 7 stages of dementia

As long asyou discuss about dementia in Australia, the statistics are alarming. After an average person turns 84, 1 in 4 will certainly be diagnosed with dementia and among the nonagenarians; the number is 1 in 2. The primary reason for dementia is age and Australia is ageing rapidly as a nation. In fact, the figures revealed in the Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia report painted a rather bleak picture of the nation and its economy. Presently, there are more than 415,000 Australians who are living with dementia of which 56% are women. By the end of 2025, this number is predicted to soar to 546,000 and to a whopping 1.2 million by 2055!

The driving factor behind this drastic and dramatic growth of this disease is the ageing community. The report also emphasises on the beginning of an immense financial burden for providing dementia care. In the year 2017-2018, it cost $15 billion to fund the hospital, medical and community care to provide the required support to the ageing generation. Over the span of the next decade, this cost is looking to increaseto $6 billion thereby putting the plans of the federal government at risk.

Startling statistics on dementiain Australia

The second leading cause of death in Australia is dementia and it contributes to 5.6% of all deaths among males and 11% of deaths among females.
In 2018, there was an average 456,998 Australians living with dementia.
Unless there is a medical breakthrough, the number of people who are living with dementia is anticipated to increase to 589,809 by 2028.
At the present moment, around 300 people are diagnosed with The total number of new diagnosis of dementia is all set to increase to 340 per day by 2025 and to more than 700 people by 2056.
In 2018, around 27,665 people from the younger generation (under 65) were living with dementia and this number is also predicted to rise to 43,543 people by the end of 2056.
Around 40 people on an average died each day due to dementia in the year 2016 and among those 14,342 people, 8776 were female.

Dementia and its impact on Australia

In the year 2018, dementia was seen to cost this nation more than $16 billion. By the end of 2025, the total cost of dementia is set to rise to more than $19 billion as per the value of today’s dollars and to $37.8 billion by the end of 2056.
Among the large portion of the elderly generation that is disabled, dementia is one of the biggest causes among Australians who are over 65 years of age. Dementia is also considered to be the third leading cause of disability in the entire nation.
People who are living with this degenerative disease account for 55% of all the people who are living in residential senior care facilities.

Funding and research by the Australian government

In the year 2015, the Federal government offered a $200 million fund to boost research on dementia over a span of 5 years. This step considerably pushed the funding for the dementia research sector of Australia to more than $70 million per year.
One of the issues that hasprovoked ultimate concern isthe need to build enough capacity for dementia research sector by motivating and encouraging more students to opt for dementia care research in their early career. Donations from public were also supported by the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.
The Australian government also set up the National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Institute of Dementia Research to make sure that dementia research was properly funded, coordinated and communicated.

A detailed overview on Dementia – What is it actually?

The word ‘dementia’ is an umbrella term which might include an entire set of symptoms which can include difficulty in solving problems, thinking, memory loss or speech loss. These changes to your behaviour are small to start off with but for a person who is living with severe dementia, loss of function can gradually get severe enough to impact his daily life and regular activities. A person with dementia can also witness sudden mood swings and changes in behavior.

Dementia can occur due to diseases like Alzheimer’s or a number of strokes one after the other. However, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia but definitely not the only type. The symptoms that a person suffering from dementia can experience will depend on various parts of the brain which are damaged and those parts which are causing the disease. There are more than one types of dementia and among them few are vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease and frontotemporal dementia. While this disease can happen to anyone, it is more common among people who are above 65 years of age.

Dementia and itsdifferentstages

Although the terms Alzheimer’s and dementia are often used interchangeably, they are actually twodifferent terms. As mentioned above, dementia is a broader term which is used to depict different conditions which include Alzheimer’s along with other health conditions with similar symptoms. To be diagnosed with dementia, a person should be suffering from more than just forgetfulness. They must be facing trouble in at least 2 of the below mentioned cognitive areas:

Communication & speech
Memory
Concentration & focus
Visual perception
Judgment & reasoning

Using GDS to assess the progression of dementia

Once this disease progresses, there are various symptoms and signs that gradually start getting moreobvious. While there are different scales to determine the disease’s progression, one of the most common scales used is Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Another name for this scale is Reisberg Scale. As per the GDS, there are 7 stages of Alzheimer’s disease with varying symptoms of each stage. Scroll down to learnmore about thedifferent stages of dementia.

NO DEMENTIA – STAGE 1

This includes Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3. When a person is at Stage 1 of dementia, there will be minimal signs of the disease and the person will function in a very normal way just as other people who are healthy. So, people who are not diagnosed with dementia are said to belong to Stage 1. As per the Alzheimer’s Association, stage 1 of dementia starts even before there are any symptoms. During this particular stage of dementia, if the person would consult a health professional, it is most likely that the doctor couldn’t diagnose the disease due to lack of symptoms.

GENTLE AND SOFT SYMPTOMS OF COGNITIVE DECLINE – STAGE 2

It is also hard to identify Stage 2. When people gradually age, there is a natural degeneration of memory and hence this can’t be taken as a useful symptom of dementia. In this stage, seniors can misplace their things and forget about it, like wallet and keys. They may also suffer from a trouble in remembering what something was. Here are few symptoms of this stage:

Not being able to recall recent events or conversations
Misplacing items
Struggling to pronounce the right words while conversing
Loss of interest in activities and people
Losing track of the date, day and time
Inability and lethargy to try out new things
Feelings of irritability, anxiety and depression
Trouble in planning or organizing
Difficulty in remembering names of known and close people

VERY MILD DECLINE TO MODERATELY MILD –STAGE 3

This is the stage when you may become aware of the fact that a near and dear one is suffering from dementia. Though the loss of memory is breezy enough but it eventually gets clearer to the person’s family members, colleagues and friends. The person then suffers from a difficulty in performing at their workplace, concentrating on the simple tasks done everyday, recalling tips taken from someone and many other symptoms.

MODERATIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE – STAGE 4

This is that stage where the doctor needs to be involved as the symptoms will become more and more noticeable and recognizable among the family members. During the stage 4 of dementia, a person might forget something about their hometown. There can also be a sudden shift in personality; for example someone who has always been a positive and polite person might suddenly change to becoming angry and ill-behaved. This is therefore the best time to involve a professional who can help you understand some of these symptoms.

REASONABLY SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OF RATIONAL DECLINE – STAGE 5

This is a stage where the symptoms become easily recognizable and identifiable. There is confusion in daily activities like how to choose an outfit for a specific occasion or how to brush your teeth or comb your hair. This is when the person loses a brief part of their memory. If there is anything new that has occurred in the life of the person like meeting someone new or having heard someone’s story, these instances won’t be remembered soon after the conversation. Few symptoms of this stage are:

Difficulty in sleeping and confusion between day and night
Getting lost or wandering around
Inappropriate behavior in different settings
Hallucinations or delusions
Perceiving difficulties
Irritability and aggression
Incapability of remembering personal address, personal history or phone number
Alterations in sleep pattern

SEVERE DEMENTIA – STAGE 6

This is probably going to be the toughest stage both for the person suffering from dementia and for the near and dear ones. At this stage, assisted living may be the best choice. Theperson will now need help with dressing, hygiene and also with eating. Your family member might even run the risk of getting lost amidst a public area. The caregivers have to be extremely watchful during this stage.

VERY HARSH DEMENTIA – STAGE 7

This is the final stage of dementia where the person might lose communication abilities, both physically and verbally. Theywill find it impossible to emote theirfeelings and will need help with most of the common daily activities. The simplest tasks will need to be done with the help of a friend or a member from the family or a nurse. The symptoms at this stage are:

Difficulty in swallowing and eating on your own
Noteworthy changes in weight – both weight loss and weight gain
Loss of speech
Incontinence
Angry outbursts leading from confusion
Restlessness
Highly vulnerable infections like pneumonia

Requirement of care by each stage

Initially when a person is diagnosed with dementia, they might not require assistance or care but with the progress of the disease, care will be eventually necessary. Let’s take a look at the care requirements by each stage:

Early stage: This is the time when the person will function as normally as any other person would and hence there is little or no care needed. You just have to give them simple reminders and few coping strategies to help the person stay as independent as possible. Family members can offer this kind of care during the early stage of dementia.

Middle stage: Here the person is no longer able to function independently as they could in the previous stage. Assistance is required in the form of grooming, bathing, dressing and even while going to bed. You should appoint a professional caregiver at this stage.

Late stage: A person who is at the latest stage of dementia will require adequate amount of care and supervision throughout the day. They might need help for being moved from the bed to the chair so that they can avoid bedsores. Swallowing food also becomes tough and hence his food items may have to be pureed.

Taking care of someone living with dementia can often become a stressful and overwhelming experience. However, if you understand the various stages of the disease, you will know what to expect and be able to act accordingly.

Home What to Do If a Loved One Is Diagnosed with Dementia

What to Do If a Loved One Is Diagnosed with Dementia

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When a loved one receives a diagnosis of dementia, it’s a tough thing to process. It’s a life-changing diagnosis, not just for the person with dementia but also for the people around them. One of your first thoughts is likely going to be about how you’re going to provide the care and support that someone with dementia needs. Dementia can progress at different speeds, but most people are going to require extra care to help them maintain a good quality of life. Most people with dementia want to live as independently as possible for as long as they can, so finding the right balance is a priority.

After Diagnosis: Your First Steps

Dealing with the shock of a dementia diagnosis isn’t something that you can do immediately. It might take some time to really absorb the information, but in the meantime, both you and your loved one should start taking some initial steps to plan for the future. Before you do anything else, it’s a good idea to educate yourself about dementia. Your doctor can provide you with some materials and point you towards useful resources. Charities such as Dementia Australia, which runs the National Dementia Helpline, can be helpful.

Of course, talking to your loved one’s doctor together is a smart thing to do. The doctor can help you consider your next steps and outline some possible treatments and care options.

You might also want to take advantage of other resources, including books, articles online and even online videos of people talking about dementia. As well as learning about dementia, it can be helpful to listen to other people’s stories of how it has had an impact on their lives. Talking about the diagnosis with friends and family can also be helpful. However, make sure you discuss with your loved one who you want to tell and when.

Finding Care for Someone with Dementia

Getting the right treatment and care after someone has been diagnosed with dementia is essential. There might not be a cure for dementia, but there are many things that can help to make it easier to deal with. Finding the right care and creating a care plan for both now and the future can help to give you more control.

For many people, home care is the most attractive option. Being able to stay in your own home and maintain a level of independence is important, although it’s not always the best option for everyone. However, many people can benefit from home care from when they first receive their diagnosis and throughout the progression of dementia. Home care can make the need for care easier to deal with and less upsetting. When your loved one gets to stay in their own home, or perhaps move in with a family member, it means less upheaval and they can avoid moving into a completely unfamiliar environment.

A Home Care Package is a package of care and services that help you to live independently in your home. With a Home Care Package, your care provider will help you to choose and manage the services that you receive. There are four levels available, starting with basic care needs at Level 1 and moving up to high-level needs at Level 4.

Of course, other care options are available too. Some people decide to care for a loved one on their own at home. However, it’s best to have some kind of support, whether it’s from a carer’s support group or through the benefit of respite care, which gives both of you a break. An aged care home or a similar arrangement is an option that some people consider, particularly for people who require 24-hour care or might benefit from being in a memory care facility. If you choose to be a home carer, you can look into the option of a day centre, which can help to provide respite care.

What Help Can You Receive?

There are some types of assistance that you might be able to receive from the Australian Government. Some older people are eligible for services that help them to do day-to-day things, and which can be partly or sometimes wholly funded by the Government.

Some of these services might include:

Personal care
Transport
Changes to your home (such as handrails)
Nursing and other care
Meals and housework
Medical and assistive equipment
Social activities
Short-term help, including respite care

Home Care Funding

Funding is available for dementia care, including Home Care Packages. To be assessed for a Home Care Package, you should get a financial assessment from the Department of Human Services. A financial assessment will help you to work out your costs when you start talking to care providers. A good Home Care Package provider can be flexible with their fees and help you to work out something that fits your budget.

When you are approved for a Home Care Package, you will be shown your contribution and what the Government will pay as a subsidy. The maximum amount paid by the Government depends on the care level, and it also increases each year. As well as being available for older people with care needs, for younger people under 65 with dementia, they can be eligible for assistance through the NDIS.

My Aged Care is the Government body that helps with aged care funding. You can contact them to see if your loved one needs an assessment from an Aged Care Assessment Team. The assessment with determine if you are eligible for a Home Care Package or for other care need funding, such as residential care, respite care or transition care. If you are approved as eligible, you will receive an approval letter, which sets out which services you can receive and gain funding for. This will help you to begin choosing the services that will help you to care for your loved on in their home.

Of course, some people might choose to entirely self-fund in-home support for their loved one. This is an option too and can help you to access the care that you need even if you’re not eligible for a Home Care Package.

Choosing the Right Home Care Services

Once you know how you’re going to fund the care and support for your loved one, you can begin to consider which services you require. If you have been approved for a Home Care Package, you can work with a care provider to find and create a package that works. When you work with Dementia Caring, you will have a Case Manager, who will help you with creating a flexible package that responds to changing needs. Your care provider should be able to help you get the most from your package and the funding made available to you.

There are several things to consider when choosing the care services for you. The needs of your loved one and the budget that you have available can be balanced so that you ensure a high standard of care. Care experts will discuss the needs of your loved one to help you find the best services to help them and you.

When your loved one has dementia, considering special dementia therapies is an important part of making the right care choices. Specialised dementia care can help people with dementia to stay independent for longer with a range of care and support services. These can include home care, housekeeping and home maintenance, respite care and dementia care support. Careful planning can help you to prepare for now but also consider the future to ensure long-term care for your loved one. The earlier dementia therapies are started, the easier it can be to delay the progression of dementia and maintain independence for longer.

Dementia therapies can include music and memory therapy, reminiscence therapy, validation therapy and the use of storytelling books. Each of these therapies is designed to help improve memory, lift mood and stimulate the person experiencing them. Talk to your care provider about dementia therapy options and which ones might be suitable for your loved one. They can make recommendations based on your loved one’s needs and how far their dementia has progressed. Every type of therapy has different benefits and some could be more enjoyable for your loved one than other options.

Thinking About the Future

Planning for the future is important after a dementia diagnosis. While it might be difficult to think about what the future will look like, it’s a smart idea to start planning as soon as possible. It’s especially useful to make some of the more complicated decisions earlier, while your loved one still has the mental capacity to choose for themselves. When their dementia has progressed, they might be less able to make decisions for themselves and, in fact, might be legally unable to make some choices. By making some plans now, you can set out some wishes for the future. It’s a good way to start talking more about dementia and how it might impact your lives.

Now can be a good time to think about some legal matters. If your loved one is unable to make decisions when their dementia has progressed, someone else might have to make these decisions for them. It may comfort them to know that they can choose who makes these decisions now so that they can choose someone who they trust. This could be concerning matters such as finances and legal matters. An enduring power of attorney allows a person to be nominated to take care of these affairs, as well as medical and care arrangements. An advanced directive can also be written to set out wishes for future medical care.

Get Support

It’s essential for both people diagnosed with dementia and those around them to get the support that they need. Without the right support, dealing with dementia can be very emotionally taxing. Fortunately, there are various ways to get the support that you need. You can look for support groups, which are available for both people living with dementia and their carers or family. This can be helpful if you want to discuss your experiences with people who are going through similar things and can share what it’s like.

Another option is to use a helpline or similar service to get support. You can access the National Dementia Helpline through Dementia Australia, which offers confidential counselling and support. Other support services might offer counselling through phone, email or in-person counselling sessions. You might consider a counsellor or therapist, which you could pay for privately, if you want to ensure you have more choice about the support that you receive. You will discover charities, as well as government programs, that can offer you guidance and support when you need it.

The Living With Dementia series is one option for support, which is available in each state and territory. The program is designed for people in the early stages of dementia and their loved ones, offering information and support, as well as the chance to meet with others in the same situation. The program will help you to explore ways of managing dementia and care needs, and also focuses on maintaining and enhancing skills. You can contact the National Dementia Helpline or take a look at the Dementia Australia website if you want to find out more about the Living with Dementia series can help you and how to access it. When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you can feel a lot of pressure to get thing sorted out quickly. Everything can be slower than you might like, but it’s best to take your time and make sure that you can make the best choices. Work with your loved one to help them get the best care and support possible. Talking about the diagnosis and your next steps is essential, so make an effort to have some important conversations in the coming weeks and months. Remember that there is support available for you to help with care and more.