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Dementia can impact on people’s senses and mobility. It may change what someone is able to do independently.
Dementia can affect a person’s senses or mobility and that puts added pressure on carers. You may need to provide a lot of help with everyday tasks at various points. Initially people can still manage daily activities on their own, but as the disease progresses, they will need support. Lorraine Haining, Specialist Dementia Nurse, Dementia Carers Count
Dementia is about so much more than memory loss. As the disease progresses it can impact on what someone can do independently as their physical abilities change. People with dementia are likely to need increasing support to manage daily activities.
As dementia progresses, you will see multiple sensory changes. These tend to happen a bit later on as the disease progress rather than at the beginning, but dementia can affect any sense. It may affect someone’s vision, their hearing, their sense of touch, their taste and their sense of smell.
There are also various mobility changes that can happen. It sometimes depends on what type of dementia someone has in terms of what changes will happen and when.
You may need to provide a lot of help with everyday tasks at various points.
At the beginning, you may just need to provide some verbal cues and reminders, but towards the end of the illness, you may need to start doing certain things for them. Eventually, you may need to do most things for them.
When a person with dementia can no longer carry out day to day activities, it can have quite a profound effect, particularly on their mood. Some people can go on to become quite depressed.
Losing independence and relying on others to do things that are very personal, and maybe even having to rely on professional carers whom you don’t know, can be very challenging to cope with. Lorraine Haining, Specialist Dementia Nurse, Dementia Carers Count
Washing, bathing, personal grooming and dressing can become difficult for a person with dementia, and it is one of the most common issues raised when we talk to carers.
Find out more about how to help with personal care
Many people living with dementia experience bladder and or bowel incontinence. This can be distressing for the person with dementia and those who care for them.
Discover ways to talk about and manage continence care
Dementia can affect people’s relationship with food which can impact food preparation, eating and drinking.
Find out more about challenges with eating and drinkingDealing with the emotions and feelings that come with being a carer can be difficult and confusing, but looking after yourself is important
Depression is frequently experienced by people with dementia and it is important to seek medical advice as treatment is available.
As a person’s dementia increases, there are many factors that might increase the likelihood of them experiencing stress and showing distress. Understanding and tackling the causes of stress can help carers cope.
