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:
- email: [email protected]
- call: 01904 929444
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.
- email: [email protected]
- call: 07483137521
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.