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Dementia

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a broad term.

It describes different conditions that affect the brain.

The most common is Alzheimer's.

Diseases also include:

  • vascular dementia
  • dementia with Lewy bodies
  • Pick's disease

Different types of dementia affect the brain at different rates and in different ways.

Each persons experience of dementia will vary.

Dementia progresses in a way that is unique to each individual.

The environment and the people around them will affect a persons experience of dementia.

Dementia's symptoms that may include:

  • memory loss
  • difficulties with thinking
  • difficulties with problem-solving
  • difficulties with language

Changes are often small to start with.

For someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life.

A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

It is true that more people over 65 have dementia.

It is not only an older person's disease, younger people get dementia too.

Reducing your risk of dementia

Getting older is the biggest risk factor for dementia.

Evidence shows there are things you can do to help reduce your own risk.

These include:

  • keeping active
  • eating healthily
  • exercising your mind

For more information visit the Alzheimer's Society [external link].

What to do if you have concerns

Contact your GP who will investigate and will refer you to further support if necessary.

You can also talk to a Dementia Adviser who can offer support and advice.

Contact the Darlington Dementia Adviser:

Living well with dementia

People with dementia can live independent lives.

There is support available to help you, or someone you care for, remain at home.

Dementia friends

Find out what it is like to live with dementia and how you can help.

Dementia friends [external link].

Dementia friendly communities

Encouraging everyone to share responsibility for ensuring that people with dementia feel:

  • understood
  • valued
  • able to contribute to their community

Dementia friendly communities [external link].

Dementia friendly Darlington

A partnership of organisations working together to make Darlington dementia friendly.

For more information about how you and your community can get involved, contact:

Belinda Williams Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator.

The Alzheimer's Society

Offer a range of information and support.

Offers a range of daily living aids which are useful for people with dementia.

Alzheimer's Society [external link].

Darlington Borough Council adult social care

Adult social care supports people with an assessed, eligible social care need,

If you are eligible for social care funded support you can take a financial assessment.

This will tell you if you can get help towards the cost of your support.

Eligibility and paying for support.

Useful Resources

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