Living Well in the Early Stages of Dementia

A dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially during the early stages when symptoms aren’t prevalent or consistent yet. It might feel like you’ve been handed this life-changing news without any real support. Everyone experiences the condition differently, but there is a range of services and resources available to help you live well through every stage of dementia.

In the early stages of dementia, your symptoms are usually relatively mild and not always easy to spot. Today, we’ll explore what you can expect during the early stages, how to live well with your diagnosis, and how a professional carer can offer assistance.

What Happens in the Early Stages of Dementia?

Dementia affects everyone differently, but for the majority of people, the first signs of dementia are mild. Most people living with early-onset dementia are able to remain independent, with only a little assistance with daily living.

Symptoms of early-stage dementia include:

• Memory problems: Often the first sign of dementia, you may frequently misplace items or struggle to recall recent events.
• Difficulty thinking and planning: You may become more easily confused and find it harder to plan, make decisions or solve problems.
• Speech and language troubles: Finding the right word in a conversation might become more difficult, especially if you’ve experienced a stroke linked to vascular dementia.

• Reduced orientation: You might find yourself unable to recognise where you are easily, leading to getting lost even in places that are usually familiar.

• Changes in mood: It’s common to feel more anxious, sad or scared after a dementia diagnosis, especially if you’re worried about losing independence.

• Visual-perceptual difficulties: Some people have difficulties judging distances, for example, when climbing stairs, which increases the risk of falling.

During this stage, it’s often a good idea to make plans for the future while you still have the ability to do so. This might include naming a trusted friend or family member as your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), making advance decisions and advance statements to make sure your wishes are completely clear moving forward.

Accessing Support After Your Diagnosis

The number of people you’ll likely be introduced to after your dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming. Knowing who’s who might make the next steps more straightforward, and help you to know who to contact should you need assistance when living with dementia.

There are several healthcare professionals you may need to know, such as:

• Dementia advisors offer one-on-one support to you and your loved ones, providing a reliable point of contact and offering information and advice on living well with dementia.

• GPs care for your general mental, physical and emotional health needs, and can refer you to specialists if needed.

• Occupational therapists assist individuals with living independently, providing advice on home adaptations, equipment to manage symptoms and more.

• Community psychiatric nurses, also known as mental health nurses, will visit you at home to provide practical advice and support your changing needs.

• Physiotherapists can help patients with dementia who are experiencing difficulties walking or have a history of falls.
• Social workers assist and support people who have experienced physical and mental health difficulties, are living with disabilities, or have unpaid carers.

• Speech and language therapists support you through communication difficulties, along with eating, drinking and swallowing troubles.

How a Care Needs Assessment Can Help

Most people with dementia will require a care needs assessment at some point, and you can decide at which stage of dementia you require it. Some people wait until their condition progresses towards advanced stages, but others may want to be more prepared and obtain an assessment during these initial stages.

A care needs assessment is organised and conducted through your local Council’s social work department or your local health board. You’ll be visited at home by a Social Worker, an Occupational Therapist or another healthcare professional, who will determine what kind of help you require.

The Council will consider this information and determine whether you’d benefit from support. Depending on your needs, you may be eligible for home care, a place in a day care facility, or home adaptations. If your assessment determines that you’d benefit from personal or nursing care, this will be offered for free.

A care needs assessment provides an opportunity to improve your overall quality of life through affordable, compassionate services.

Creating a Support System

Support systems are an excellent way to make sure you always have someone to talk things through with. Talking with others is an underrated coping mechanism, especially during the early stages of dementia when you’re still coming to terms with your diagnosis.

Your support system can be made up of several groups of people, including:

• Family members with whom you feel close enough to confide
• Friends, who you can visit frequently or call regularly to chat
• Healthcare providers, such as therapists, doctors and counsellors
• Neighbours, faith leaders and other members of your community
• Peers from support groups who are experiencing similar dementia symptoms

Local dementia groups are a great way to meet other people living with the same condition. You can confide in each other and perhaps even inspire others with your experiences. Many people with dementia will require increasing levels of support as their condition progresses, so it can be beneficial to meet like-minded people during the early stages.

Look After Your Health

After a dementia diagnosis, you may find yourself neglecting certain parts of your physical and mental health. This is especially true if you’re feeling stressed, tired, anxious or depressed. However, certain concepts can improve and slow the progression of the disease, including a balanced diet, gentle exercise and emotional well-being.

Dementia and Diet

A healthy diet can reduce the risk of sudden worsening of dementia symptoms by providing the necessary nutrients to the brain and body. When diagnosed with early-stage dementia, make sure you eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein to support brain function.

On the other hand, highly processed foods that are high in fat, sodium and sugar can negatively impact cognitive function and increase the risk of behavioural symptoms. Proper hydration is also essential, as dehydration can increase the risk of delirium and other severe symptoms.

Gentle Exercises for People With Dementia

Exercise can positively impact dementia symptoms by enhancing blood flow to the brain, which in turn supports memory and cognitive function. It can also reduce behavioural issues in some people, improving their mood and sleep, and helping to maintain motor skills and balance.

The Alzheimer’s Society states that regular aerobic exercise can lead to improvements in memory, attention and thinking speed. Staying active doesn’t have to be strenuous; even gentle exercise can help improve mood, increase your independence and promote better sleep.

Check out our guide on exercise and activity ideas for people with dementia for tips on living well through physical activity.

Looking After Your Emotional Well-Being

Many people consider the physical impacts of a diagnosis before the emotional changes in dementia, but they’re both as important as each other. There are several ways you can look after your mental and emotional health in the early stages of dementia, including:

• Stay connected: Utilise your support system to make sure your social needs are being met. Participate in community activities, connect with others through support groups and maintain connections with loved ones.
• Continue your hobbies: A dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you enjoy. Engage in your hobbies, find new ones through self-exploration and spend time outdoors to naturally boost endorphins.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eating well and exercising are not only good for physical health, but also emotional well-being. Additionally, consider ways to destress, such as practising meditation or engaging in music therapy.
• Avoid things that don’t bring you joy: Now is more important than ever to focus on the things that make you happy in life. Avoid things that bring negativity, such as poor relationships, alcohol and smoking.

Dementia-Related Sleep Troubles

Sleep issues are a common symptom of dementia, especially if you’re feeling stressed or upset about your diagnosis. Sleep plays a vital role in cognitive behaviour and physical health, so it’s essential that we promote a healthy sleep pattern with similar wake/ sleep times each day. Not only will this routine signal the difference between day and night to your brain, but it’ll also help train your body into knowing the right time to wind down.

To avoid dementia-related sleep troubles, we recommend establishing a consistent day and bedtime routine. The latter doesn’t have to be extensive, as even limiting screen time and dimming the lights an hour before bedtime can significantly impact your body’s natural circadian rhythm. If you’re still experiencing sleep disturbances, talk to your doctor about a medication review to make sure you’re not taking any potential sleep disruptors.

How Country Cousins Can Help

At Country Cousins, we take pride in offering premium live-in care services to those who need them. Our carers are fully trained, compassionate and experienced in delivering outstanding dementia care. While you may not think live-in care is necessary during the early stages of dementia, we can provide physical and emotional support to ensure you’re living well through your diagnosis.

It can be helpful to get to know your caregiver before dementia symptoms progress, as this helps avoid confusion and stress. Country Cousins will carefully match you with a compatible live-in carer, allowing you to get to know them and form a bond that you can depend on in the future. It can be incredibly beneficial and supportive to have a member of your support team living with you as symptoms appear and develop.

Talk to Our Team Today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.