Dementia Services

What is dementia? Dementia Services
Caring for someone with dementia
Scottish Standards of Care
Alzheimer Scotland
What help is available?
How do I get it?
Planning Ahead - Financial Affairs
Publications

What is dementia?

Dementia is the result of physical illnesses which affect the brain and can only be diagnosed by a doctor. Old age does not cause dementia. It is more common in very old people, but 80 percent of people over 80 do not have dementia.

One of the best known types of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease, but there are many different types of dementia such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementias (including Pick's disease) and alcohol-related dementias.

Someone with dementia will gradually lose their ability to do certain things. Memory is often affected. Someone with dementia may become confused about where they are, who other people are, and what day it is. Their personality may change. Everyday tasks may become increasingly difficult. They may become disoriented, forget to eat or to take medication. But every person with dementia is different and not every problem associated with dementia will necessarily happen to them.

Caring for Someone with Dementia

Caring for someone with dementia is different because of the complex, unpredictable and progressive nature of the illness. Complex care needs include intimate personal care as the ability for self-care declines, increasing levels of supervision, emotional support, decision-making, behaviour changes, coping with the risks to safety, personality changes and changes within the relationship.

Dementia has a profound emotional and psychological impact on the person with dementia, leading to stress on carers and the need for support in responding appropriately to the person with dementia.

The financial costs of caring may also be greater for carers of people with dementia.

Scottish Standards of Care

The Scottish Government published its first national dementia strategy in June 2010. A major part of this is producing dementia care standards, and these were published in June 2011 . To obtain a copy of the standards please contact David Berry at the Scottish Government: david.berry@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or on 0131 244 3098.

The standards are designed to inform and empower people with dementia and their families and carers on the level and quality of care they should expect from all dementia services and in all care settings - including at home, in hospital and in care and nursing homes.

The standards also tell people what they can do if they think the standard of care to which they are entitled is not being met.

Alzheimer Scotland

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland's leading dementia charity, providing information, and support, and campaigning actively to help people with dementia, their families and carers. They offer a 24 hour, freephone Dementia Helpline to provide specialist information and support for people with dementia, those who care for them and anyone with a concern or query regarding dementia. Call them free on 0808 808 3000.

They can also put you in touch with your local branch of Alzheimer Scotland which can help you to access a range of support locally.

Alzheimer Scotland's website can provide you with lots of information, including factsheets on many aspects of coping with dementia including assistive technology, specialist equipment and free guides to local services.

What help is available?

In addition to any other help which you may be assessed as needing, specialist help for dementia might also include:

specialist day care, overnight care and respite care
specialist adaptations and equipment
telecare personal assistance and alarm services
specialist occupational therapy services

You can also ask your GP, district nurse or social worker to refer you to a Community Health Team. In these teams, a range of specialist workers, including nurses, can help you to cope with the practical and emotional difficulties that you may face.

Effective support for people with dementia and their carers can and often is accessed through mainstream services. Your local authority may also have specialist services and lists that can be obtained directly from them. There are also specific types of telecare and equipment for dementia.

How do I get it?

Ask your Social Work Department for an Assessment of your Care Needs. You can also ask your GP, district nurse or health visitor to arrange an Assessment of your Care Needs for you.

Your needs will be discussed with you during your assessment and the Social Work Department will let you know afterwards in writing what assistance it is able to offer you to meet your assessed needs. For more information about the assessment, see our page on Assessment of your Care Needs.

If you are a carer, you are also entitled to a separate Carers Assessment.

Even if you do not need immediate help, it may still be useful to contact the Social Work Department to find out more about the services they can provide to help you, should you require it in the future.

Planning Ahead - Financial Affairs

You may wish to plan for the future. One way in which you can do this is to choose who will look after your financial affairs, should you become unable to do so, by drawing up a Power of Attorney.

If you are a carer, you may need to investigate ways to manage finances on someone's behalf.