Dementia

A diagnosis of dementia brings a range of changes for the person with the diagnosis and their partner/whanau and friends. Common feelings at the time of diagnosis are shock, sadness, anger and fear, or for some people, relief at having an explanation for the changes that have been occurring. Actively …

Travelling with a PLWD (person living with dementia) requires more planning and care but is still possible for a long time after diagnosis. To make it enjoyable, plans need to take into account any difficulties resulting from cognitive impairment. Be realistic and consider what will work for them now. Modify …

There is evidence to suggest that as mental capacity changes in people with dementia, some patients will function more on a sensory level rather than an intellectual level. The establishment of sensory gardens are a great tool to help people with dementia which can help to inspire and recover old …

When is it time to seek help when a loved one is not quite themself? During the holiday season you may have gotten together to celebrate the year with your friends and family. One of the great joys of this time is spending time with people you haven’t seen all …

As Christmas approaches and families get together, Dementia New Zealand is running its Remember December campaign to encourage Kiwis to learn the signs of dementia. “We often get a lot of people contacting us in the new year, as people have picked up the signs and symptoms that a loved …

Everyone has those moments now and then: forgetting which day of the week it is or where you put your car keys. It happens to us all. Forgetfulness is a fact of a life. But when a loved one begins to struggle to recall what they just had for breakfast …

For most of us, when we think about people living with dementia we think about the older members of our community. And while most people with dementia only begin to develop symptoms after they reach the age of 65, for some people the signs begin much earlier. Younger onset dementia …

When you’re the carer for someone who has dementia, it can sometimes feel like your whole world revolves around them. When you’re also related to or married to the person you’re caring for, this is perhaps even more true. Naturally, you want them to have the best life possible, especially …

Good news for gamers of all ages: Research has shown that certain types of games are good for your brain! Canadian researchers have found playing 3D-platform games involving logic and puzzles can build the hippocampus, the part of the brain which controls memory. A couple of previous studies had shown …

“What I Speak is What I Create” “Abracadabra” is a very old word and there is some debate about where it came from. A widely accepted view is it is from the ancient Aramaic language and means “What I speak is what I create”. I’ll let the debate go on …