Topic

Dementia symptoms and health

What to look out for and how to respond when dementia affects the body, mood and everyday health.

16 articles

Advice · 4 min readWhat causes pneumonia in people with dementia?You're bound to be worried if a loved one with dementia develops a respiratory infection such as pneumonia — here's what to know about the causes, symptoms and prevention.
Advice · 5 min readDizziness and fainting with dementiaDizziness and fainting spells are common and worrying symptoms of dementia, especially Lewy Body Dementia — here's why they happen and how to help prevent falls.
Advice · 3 min readWhy does dementia make you feel fearful and anxious?People with dementia can often feel anxious or fearful for reasons that aren't always obvious. Here's what can cause that fear, and practical ways to help someone feel calmer and safer.
Advice · 4 min readMuscle weakness and paralysis with dementiaHow dementia-related strokes and conditions like Akinesia can cause muscle weakness or paralysis, and what carers should watch for and do next.
Advice · 5 min readDealing with body stiffness and aches with dementiaDementia can make it harder to recognise and communicate pain — here's why aches and stiffness happen, how to spot the signs, and non-medical ways to ease discomfort.
Advice · 4 min readNausea & dementia: Coping with feeling sickPossible dementia-related reasons your loved one could be feeling sick, non-medical ways to help banish the symptoms, and how to spot the signs when they cannot tell you.
Advice · 4 min readHow does dementia affect communication?Dementia can affect speech, understanding and body language in many different ways. Here's why communication becomes harder, and practical tips to help someone with dementia feel understood.
Advice · 3 min readConcerned about a rash? Here's a simple 6 step guide to managing dementia and rashesDementia doesn't directly cause rashes, but it can make people more prone to them — here's a simple 6-step guide to preventing, spotting and managing skin rashes in someone with dementia.
Advice · 4 min readDealing with headaches and dementiaHeadaches can be hard to spot and manage in people with dementia — here's how to recognise the signs, what the research says about a possible link, and simple ways to ease the pain.
Advice · 6 min readCoping with unresponsiveness and apathy in dementiaWithdrawal and apathy are common but distressing symptoms of dementia — here's why they happen and 8 practical ways to reconnect with a loved one who seems unresponsive.
Advice · 3 min readDo you know someone who has Pleasant Dementia?Some families say their loved one became calmer and happier after a dementia diagnosis. Journalist Kate Corr explores what 'Pleasant Dementia' really is — and whether it's something to hope for.
Advice · 4 min read5 things care home staff should NEVER sayEight phrases from care home staff that could be a red flag — and what they might really mean about the quality of care your loved one is receiving.
Advice · 5 min readShoplifting and dementia: Excuse me, have you paid for those?People with dementia are far more likely to forget to pay while shopping than a deliberate act of theft — here's why it happens and 5 ways to make it less stressful for everyone.
Advice · 2 min readSmells like dementia? How a unique odour test could detect Alzheimer'sResearchers say a change in the smell of urine could be an early biomarker for Alzheimer's. We look at what the study found — and why experts urge caution.
Advice · 4 min readWhy does dementia cause chewing and swallowing problems?Chewing and swallowing problems are common in the later stages of dementia — here's why they happen, the warning signs to watch for, and 10 practical ways to make mealtimes easier.
Advice · 3 min readHow do community nurses help with dementia care?A guide to the different types of community nurse — from community mental health nurses to specialist dementia nurses — and how each one can support you and the person you're caring for.
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