dementia and mental health

Question 1

early stage symptoms (5)

Answer 1

1. progressive and frequent memory loss
2. confusion
3. personality changes and behaviour changes
4. apathy and withdrawal
5. loss of ability to perform everyday tasks

Question 2

advanced stage symptoms (8)

Answer 2

1. hallucinations
2. delusions
3. suspicious - lose/hides/accuses
4. demanding
5. apathetic, withdrawn
6. incontinence
7. mobility compromised
8. gradual progression ends in death

Question 3

general mental health

Answer 3

• mostly emotionally healthy
• higher incidence of depression in institutional care
• higher suicide rate in older old
• often don’t receive sufficient care

Question 4

depression

Answer 4

• loneliness and isolation
• reduced sense of purpose
• health problems
• medications
• fears
• recent bereavement

Question 5

depression vs dementia

Answer 5

• both chronic conditions that lead to impaired functioning in daily life tasks
• dementia is a more progressive condition which primarily affects older people and is more associated with deterioration of memory and thinking
• Depression affects people of all ages and is treatable.
• it is often overlooked and left untreated in this age group because it frequently co-occurs with other conditions.