More Information on Dementia and Alzheimer 

Common Signs and Symptoms

Singapore AIC identifies several stages of dementia, with the experience different for each patient. In all types of dementia, obliviousness is the early sign. The deterioration in cognitive skills is gradual and in later stages, daily activities will become increasingly challenging without assistance. Often people are not sure how to differentiate between the normal changes that come with aging and the signs of dementia. There are several ways to tell:

Normal Ageing Memory Changes

• Still able to pursue daily activities and function independently, despite occasional blackouts
• It may require some time to remember directions and/or navigate new places
• Still capable in judgment and decision making
• Able to recall and describe significant events and instances
• May occasionally have difficulty finding the right word but has no problem in holding a conversation

Behaviors and Symptoms that May Indicate Dementia

• Difficulty in performing simple daily tasks, i.e. paying bills, dressing appropriately, and washing up
• Forgetting how to do things that they are normally very familiar with
• Gets lost or appears disoriented in familiar places and is unable to follow directions
• Has difficulty choosing when presented with many choices, may demonstrate improper judgment or socially inappropriate conduct
• Unable to recall or describe instances, especially with more recent events
• Frequently forgets, misuses, or garbles words
• Repeats phrases and stories unknowingly in the same conversation

How can we reduce the chances of getting dementia?

The causes of dementia are not all well understood but there are some actions that may help to depend on the situation:

1. Physical Activity: Exercising regularly will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient. It will also help to lower cholesterol and maintain your blood pressure at a healthy level, decreasing the risk of developing vascular dementia
2. Brain Activity: Keep your mind active. Mentally stimulating activities, such as puzzles, Sudoku, and other word games serve as cognitive training that may offset or delay the setting in of dementia
3. Connectivity: Be physically and socially active. Physical activity and social interaction may delay the onset of dementia
4. Diet: Maintain a healthy diet. Having a healthy diet is important for many reasons, but a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids – commonly found in certain fish and nuts – may promote overall health and offset or delay the setting in of dementia

The Seven Stages of Dementia

Dementia is a journey, and it helps to know where you are on the journey.

Stage 1: No Impairment: During this stage, dementia is not detectable, and no blackout or other signs of dementia are evident.

Stage 2: Very Mild Decline: The senior may notice minor recollection problems or lose things around the house, although not to the point where the forgetfulness can easily be distinguished from normal age-related forgetfulness. The patient will still do well on relation tests and the disease is unlikely to be detected by loved ones or physicians.

Stage 3: Mild Decline: At this stage, the families and friends of the senior may begin to notice cognitive problems. Performance on relation tests is affected and physicians will be able to detect impaired cognitive function. Individuals in stage 3 will have difficulty in many areas including:

• Finding the right word during conversations
• Organizing and planning
• Remembering names of new acquaintances

Individuals with stage three dementia may also frequently lose personal possessions, including valuables.

Stage 4: Moderate Decline: In stage four of dementia, clear-cut indicators of the disease are apparent. Individuals with stage four dementia:

• Have difficulty with simple arithmetic
• Have poor short-term memory (may not recall what they ate for breakfast, for example)
• Inability to manage finance and pay bills
• May forget details about their life histories

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline: During the fifth stage, the patient begins to need help with many day-to-day activities. Individuals in stage five of the disease may experience:

• Difficulty dressing appropriately
• Inability to recall simple details about themselves such as their own phone number
• Significant confusion

On the other hand, the patient in stage five maintains functionality. They typically can still bathe and toilet independently. They also usually still know their family members and some detail about their personal histories, especially their childhood and youth.

Stage 6: Severe Decline: Individuals with the sixth stage of dementia need constant supervision and frequently require professional care. Symptoms include:

• Confusion or unawareness of environment and surroundings
• Inability to recognize faces except for the closest friends and relatives
• Inability to remember most details of personal history
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Major personality changes and potential behavior problems
• The need for assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting and bathing
• Wandering

Stages 7: Very Severe Decline: Stage seven is the final stage of dementia. Because the disease is a terminal illness, a person with dementia in stage seven is nearing death. In stage seven of the disease, the patient loses the ability to communicate or respond to their environment. While they may still be able to utter words and phrases, they have no insight into their condition and need assistance with all activities of daily living. In the final stages of dementia, patients may lose their ability to swallow.

What can be done?

While there is currently no cure for dementia, there is the care and caring. We believe the right care approach can help your loved one maintain a high quality of life even in the face of a fugue state. Staying in the familiar surroundings of home can keep seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia feeling safe and loved.

Dementia of any kind is stressful for their loved one and for the family. Many families try to deal with the condition by themselves, sometimes with the assistance of a foreign domestic worker. But most families and domestic helpers are not trained or equipped to deal with the challenges of dementia. This just increases the stress for you and your loved one.

At Home Instead we have developed specialized programs and our staff is specially trained for dementia home care and deal with these challenges.