What is dementia?
Dementia stems from a range of disorders affecting the brain. It
comes in different forms, the commonest being Alzheimer’s disease
and vascular disease.
Symptoms include loss of memory, confusion, and
changes in personality, mood and behaviour. The
ability of people with dementia to look after themselves
becomes increasingly affected.
Dementia usually affects older people and becomes more
common with age, although it can develop in younger people. It
is important to remember that developing dementia is not a
normal part of growing old and that most older people are never
affected.
It is also important to remember that whilst you may feel you
are having problems with your memory or other age-related issues,
this does not mean you are necessarily getting dementia.
Help
There are a wide range of services for people with all forms of
dementia.
Increasingly the view is now that a person with dementia is as
disabled as their environment makes them. So the aim is to
provide services for the whole person and their family, so that
independence and quality of life will be retained for as long as
possible.
See our how to get help pages
for more information.
Help for relatives and friends
"One day at a time" - talks, including
discussion, for relatives and friends of people with dementia.
The sessions take place at:
The Miranda Barry Day Centre,
367a Fulham Road,
SW10 9TN
(just a few doors down from the Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital).