dementia course

[grandmacath]

this is for the second part of the course i am doing ,can anyone say why it is important to view dementia as a disability ,thank you

[Tefler]

I'm no professional, Grnadmacath, but, having had a close friend and a grandparent suffer from dementia, I would say that one reason for treating it as a disability is that, like most other disabilities, it is incurable.

Another reason would be that, as with people managing other disabilities, those suffering from dementia should be helped to live as full and independent a life as possible in their circumstances, althoug these circumstances will obviously change as the disease progresses.

A further reason would be to do with the care needed and the support which the carers also require.

Hope that helps.

[grandmacath]

thank you tefler for your answer it was very helpful you have said simerla to what i thought but you worded it better many thanks may be back soon

[WendyS]

Dimentia is a serious mental disablity because it prevents the sufferer from living the life they would normally choose to live. This is because at any given time they can suddenly find themselves "disengaged" from their normal activities, either because they cannot remember important things they need to do to organise their live, or because they have to depend on somebody else and thus lose their independence. It also causes enormous frustrations which can lead to violent mood swings, aggression and violence. Very often the sufferer knows something is wrong with them but either can't understand, or doesn't remember what the problem is. It is a desperately debilitating disease, both for those who suffer from it, and for those who care for them.

[silverdale5]

you took the words right out of my mouth wendy!

i'm joking - excellent answer though, brilliantly explained