In 2012, Thailand had approximately 550,000 people suffering from dementia. It is thought to affect 1 in 10 elderly people over the age of 60.
Common symptoms of dementia include:
Loss of memory
Other cognitive deficits, like difficulty in understanding and confusion
Depression
Mood swings
Exhaustion
There is no cure for dementia and it is terminal. Managing dementia focuses on early diagnosis and delaying the progression of the disease.
Word bank
Working memory
Episodic memory
Semantic memory
Procedural memory
Long term memory
Short term memory
Reconstructive memory
Schema
Summary: What are some of the features of dementia? Why do you think early diagnosis is important?
People with dementia often forget recent events. For example, they may not remember what happened last week, but they can remember things from their youth like their wedding or music they used to listen to. The disease 'works backwards' until they can only remember very early memories.
As the disease gets worse, they may forget the name of common objects like things around the house or types of vehicles.
In advanced stages, they may forget how to do simple things such as read a clock or use a fork and spoon.
Application: Which three types of memory are affected by dementia? Whose theory talks about these types of memory?
Take a look at the Mini-Cog test for screening dementia.
Summary: What tasks are the patient asked to complete in the test? Which types of memory does the Mini-Cog instrument test?
Validation Therapy: Dementia Villages
Validation therapy is about accepting older people's needs. Instead of ignoring or correcting irrational behaviour shown by those with dementia, it focuses on support. Hogewey (1; 2) is a dementia village in the Netherlands for residents with advanced dementia. The residents there have severe dementia and live in houses modelled to look like where they lived when before they developed dementia. For example, the upper-class elderly would live in a house with aristocrastic features and those who lived in Indonesia as part of the Dutch East Indies colonies would have an Indonesian style home. The staff who care for them wear normal clothes and act more like 'normal', non-clinical staff such as cashiers and gardeners whilst caring for them. Residents appear happier and more mentally alert than normal sufferers.
Summary: What does validation therapy try to do? What is Hogewey and how does it work?
Application: How is reconstructive memory applied in dementia villages like Hogewey? What are some of the benefits of dementia villages like Hogewey? What are some ethical concerns of villages which try to imitate the past for patients?
Cognitive Stimulation as Therapy
Cognitive stimulation involves activities such as games and discussions which encourage thinking and remembering. It may include listening to old songs but may also include practicing old skills and knowledge.
It works best for patients with mild to moderate dementia and can slow the development of the disease.
Providence Mount St Vincent Residential Home ("The Mount") bring kindergarten children to the nursing home regularly and allow residents to play with the children, join in their games, singing and storytelling.
Summary: What activities are involved in cognitive stimulation? What is the purpose of it? How does The Mount bring cognitive stimulation to its residents?
Application: How might semantic memory, episodic memory and reconstructive memory play a role in The Mount?
Based on what you've learned, how well do you think cognitive psychology aids in treatment of dementia? Is it more useful in certain stages of treatment than others?