Living with Alzheimer’s Infographic

4+ Living with Alzheimer's According to the World Health Organisation, dementia cases are forecasted to triple by 2050. It is expected 115.4 million people will be affected. Alzheimer's is said to be the most common cause of dementia and is reported to contribute up to 70 % of cases. Alzheimer's Figures Alzheimer's disease is characterised by a progressive decline in cognitive function. Cost of treating and caring for people with dementia expected to increase by 43% by 2030, to 250 billion euro. This is increased among people aged 65 or more. By 2050, people aged 60 and over will account for Projected that by 2030, 14 million in Europe will have Alzheimer's disease. 22% of world population. These costs include the loss of income by the sufferer and the caregiver, as well as the cost of providing health and social care. Almost 2/3 of Americans with Alzheimer's are women. Number of people with dementia in low and middle income countries compared to high income countries 130 125 100 75 low and middle income countries 50 20 High income countries 2013 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 Year Symptoms Confusion with time or Memory loss that affects daily life, particularly recently learned information. Challenges in planning and solving problems. place. Sometimes a person may forget where they are or how they got there. Difficulty in understanding visual images and spatial awareness. A Difficulty with words in speaking and writing. The person may become confused in a conversation. Losing things and being unable to retrace steps to find something. Poor judgement or decision making. Changes in mood and personality. May become easily upset in places out of their comfort zone. Can become Withdrawal from work and social activities. confused, anxious or fearful. Risk Factors While no cure or preventative medication for Alzheimer's currently exists, there have been extensive studies which indicate that certain environmental factors may increase or decrease risk of developing the disease: Increased Risk@ Decreased RiskO Smoking. Obesity. Education. Physical Activity. Туре 2 diabetes. Traumatic head injury. Mediterranean Leisure diet. Activity. Hypertension. Making Life Easier for Alzheimer's patients We need to increase our capacity to detect dementia early and to provide the necessary health and social care. Much can be done to decrease the burden of dementia. Dr Oleg Chestnov Assistant Director-General, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO. Improve day to day living for people diagnosed with Alzheimer's: Tell people if you have trouble finding words. They can help. Improving Practice people's names. Stay healthy your memory Make the environment work for you. If possible, meet people in a place that suits you. Communication Follow a routine. Giving your day structure will help you remember what you need to do. Exercise regularly and keep your brain active by doing things that you enjoy, such as: Word games, arts and crafts and number games. Keep in touch with friends, family and your local community. Use lists or a diary. Keep things in the same place. Keep active and involved If you are lacking confidence, talk to family and friends about how they can help. How to help as a Caregiver: Make sure that you have the person's attention and that you make eye contact. Speak clearly and use short sentences. One idea at a time. Communication Show respect and patience. V Make sure no one speaks down to the person or treats them like a child. Provide support to enable the patient to complete tasks themselves. Resist the urge to complete the task for them- help and support is more important. Personal care While the patient may not have the same mobility in later stages of the disease, enjoying their hobbies is still important. Support them in their interests when possible. Keep active References www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2012/dementia_20120411/en www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp http://www.alzheimer.ie/Home.aspx www.who.int/medicines/areas/priority_medicines/BP6_11Alzheimer.pdf HOME CARE PLUS www.homecareplus.ie trusted care at home Millions of people with dementia