What is dementia?
Information for service users and carers
RDaSH
Older People’s Mental Health Services
2 | What is dementia?
Symptoms of dementia may
include the following:
• Loss of memory – this particularly
affects short-term memory, for
example forgetting what happened
earlier in the day, not being able to
recall conversations, being repetitive
or forgetting the way home from
the shops. Long-term memory is
usually still quite good
• Mood changes – people with
dementia may be withdrawn, sad,
frightened or angry about what is
happening to them
• Communication problems – this
includes problems finding the
right words for things, for example
describing the function of an item
instead of naming it.
What causes dementia?
The two most common causes of
dementia are Alzheimer’s disease and
vascular dementia.
• Alzheimer’s disease – this is the
most common cause of dementia.
During the course of the disease
the chemistry and structure of the
brain change, leading to the death
of brain cells. Problems of shortterm memory are usually the first
noticeable sign
• Vascular dementia – if the oxygen
supply to the brain fails due to
vascular disease, brain cells are
likely to die and this can cause the
symptoms of vascular dementia.
These symptoms can occur suddenly
following a stroke, or over time
through a series of small strokes.
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Who gets dementia?
• In the UK, there are about 750,000
people with dementia
• Dementia mainly affects people over
the age of 65 and the likelihood
increases with age.
• However, it can affect younger
people; there are over 16,000
people in the UK under the age of
65 who have dementia
• In Doncaster, there are 50,000
people over the age of 65. Of these,
3,330 are likely to be affected by
dementia
• There are currently 150 adults in
Doncaster with dementia who are
under the age of 65
• Older people account for 60 per
cent of acute hospital admissions.
Of these, 50 per cent have mental
health problems, 90 per cent of
whom will have dementia
4 | What is dementia?
• In Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospital
over a 12 month period, 34,000 bed
days (16 per cent) were related to
dementia.
Changes in surroundings
Changes in surroundings, such as
visiting a relative, going on holiday
or being admitted to hospital, can
be disorientating for a person with
dementia and may make them appear
more confused than usual. However,
there is much that can be done to help
them adapt to the new environment.
They will need reassurance, together
with timely and sensitive support.
Person-centred care
The person-centred care approach aims
to see the person with dementia as
an individual, rather than focusing on
their illness or on abilities they may have
lost. Instead of treating the person as a
collection of symptoms and behaviours
to be controlled, person-centred care
considers the whole person, taking
into account each individual’s unique
qualities, abilities, interests, preferences
and needs. Person-centred care also
means treating people with dementia
with dignity and respect.
Dementia, depression and
delirium
• Not everyone gets dementia, but the
risk increases with age
• Depression is common among older
people admitted to hospital
• Depression is a serious condition that
can be life threatening
• Depression can alter the way people
experience pain and may make them
less tolerant of pain
• Depression can present as
somatisation (bodily symptoms).
Frequent admissions to hospital for
non-specific reasons could be an
indication of this
• Depression can affect a patient’s
recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
plan
• Depression and delirium can
be experienced by people with
dementia, thereby increasing their
length of stay in hospital if not
identified and treated quickly
• Delirium is a rapid (hours, days,
weeks) decline in mental state. It
is frequently referred to as acute
confusional state
• Delirium is under-recognised and
under-treated
• The most common precipitating
factors are illness, such as urinary
tract infections, and certain drugs
• Delirium mostly occurs in older
people, particularly those with a
background of dementia.
• It’s important to recognise
depression early and take action
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Useful contacts
Senior clinical nurse
Older people’s mental health
liaison service
For advice on mental health issues
in older people and advice, support
and training for staff.
phone 01302 798467
fax 01302 798474.
Alzheimer’s Society
Room F9
Mexborough Business Centre
Mexborough
S64 9JP.
Dementia UK
A charity intent on improving life for
patients with dementia
www.dementiauk.org
6 | What is dementia?
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This information is correct at the time of publishing
Last Reviewed: September 2011
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