A guardian or conservator is appointed by a court to make decisions about a person's care and property. Guardianship is generally considered when a person with dementia is no longer able to provide for his or her own care and either the family is unable to agree upon the type of care needed or there is no family.
If a person with dementia loses the legal capacity to make decisions about their medical treatment, someone else needs to make those decisions for them. In most states and territories, a person can appoint a person they trust to make these decisions.
Dementia Carer responsibilities and duties
A dementia carer's responsibilities will depend on their specific role – after all, jobs working with people with dementia cover a variety of positions – but common duties include personal care, domestic support, emotional support, and companionship.
When people with Alzheimer's do develop behavioral problems or aggression, it's usually when the disease is in a more advanced stage. Most people with Alzheimer's don't commit crimes. And when they do, experts say, they should not be held responsible for their actions, since it is the result of a brain disease.
If the GP has been able to rule out other causes for your symptoms, they may refer you to a healthcare professional who specialises in diagnosing dementia, such as: a psychiatrist with experience of treating dementia (an old-age psychiatrist) a doctor specialising in elderly care (a geriatrician)
If you think that someone you know may have dementia, but they have not been diagnosed, talk to your doctor. GPs will often be involved in the process of a diagnosis, either by making a diagnosis themselves or referring a person to specialist services.
Generally, a senior with dementia should go into a care home if you're struggling to meet their needs and your mental and physical health as a caregiver are at risk. The safety of your loved one should also be a key factor in deciding whether it's time for memory care.
Don't Tell Them They're Wrong About Something: To let the person save face, it's best not to contradict or correct them if they say something wrong. There's no good reason to do that. If they're alert enough, they'll realize they made a mistake and feel bad about it.
In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others. In the later stages, memory loss becomes far more severe.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
Many people affected by dementia are concerned that they may inherit or pass on dementia. The majority of dementia is not inherited by children and grandchildren. In rarer types of dementia there may be a strong genetic link, but these are only a tiny proportion of overall cases of dementia.
People with dementia may have difficulty making some decisions, but will be able to make other decisions themselves. For example, a person might not be able to make decisions about their medical treatment, but could make decisions about what they eat, or which television programmes to watch.
A complication of diseases such as Alzheimer's and related dementias is that the person may lack or gradually lose the ability to think clearly. This change affects his or her ability to make decisions and participate in legal and financial planning.
The easiest method to appoint an enduring power of attorney is to complete the forms from the State Trustees. It is recommended you seek legal advice as these are complex legal documents and need to accurately reflect your wishes going forward.
People with dementia often rely on their routines as a source of comfort. A daily routine helps a person know what to expect. This means that a sudden disruption in routine may cause dementia symptoms to get worse. This is especially true if a person experiences stress.
Alzheimer's disease – around eight to 10 years. Life expectancy is less if the person is diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. A few people with Alzheimer's live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years. Vascular dementia – around five years.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
It can be difficult to accept that your aging loved one may be experiencing early signs of dementia. It's human to reject what we find unpleasant or frightening but denying signs of memory impairment can be dangerous to both caregivers and their aging loved ones.
Often when a person with dementia asks to go home it refers to the sense of 'home' rather than home itself. 'Home' may represent memories of a time or place that was comfortable and secure and where they felt relaxed and happier. It could also be an indefinable place that may not physically exist.
Don't Ignore Them
If you're not sure how to interact with someone with obvious signs of dementia, it's OK to feel awkward. What doesn't help is shutting down and not making an effort to interact. The same applies if you suddenly start cutting back on visits because you're feeling uncomfortable.
For example, a stage one or mild dementia with a little bit of forgetfulness can be lived with. However, more severe stage four dementia means that support from outsiders and family members will be required.
Even though your loved one may enjoy having you visit, they may similarly tire out from longer visits. Consider visiting for 20 minutes a day, several times a week, as opposed to a one-hour visit once a week.
Gently tell the truth
If they seem genuinely disorientated by their surroundings – perhaps they're getting used to a new environment and keep forgetting that they've moved – remind them often that they're now living with you, or have moved into sheltered accommodation or a care home.