This presentation describes the three phases of dementia and describes the symptoms and effects of each phase.

1. PHASES OF
DEMENTIA

2. DEMENTIA
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines
Dementia as:
A syndrome due to a disease of the brain, usually of
chronic or progressive nature, in which there is a
disturbance of multiple cortical functions, calculations,
learning capacity, language and judgment.
Impairment of cognitive function is commonly
accompanied and occasionally preceded by
deterioration in emotional control, social behavior or
motivation. This syndrome occurs in Alzheimer’s
disease, in cerebrovascular disease and in other
conditions primarily or secondarily affecting the brain.

3. Normal Ageing and
Dementia
• In normal ageing: absent mindedness and
slower at remembering.
• In dementia: forgetting with increasing
frequency, confusion, difficulty
communicating and disorientation, even in
familiar surroundings.

4. Phases of Dementia
1. EARLY DEMENTIA
2. MODERATE DEMENTIA
3. SEVERE DEMENTIA

5. Early Dementia
• The onset is very gradual, and its beginnings are
often difficult to identify.
• During the early phase of dementia, the person
may:
o Appear more apathetic, with less sparkle.
o May experience incontinence and difficulty in
swallowing.
o Lose interest in hobbies or activities.
o Be unwilling to try new things.
o Be unable to adapt to change.

6. Early Dementia
o Show poor judgement and make poor
decisions.
o Slower to grasp complex ideas and
take longer with routine jobs.
o Blame others for ‘stealing’ lost items.
o Become more self-centred and less
concerned with others and their
feelings.

7. Early Dementia
o Become more forgetful of
details of recent events.
o Be more likely to repeat
themselves or lose the thread
of their conversation.
o Be more irritable or upset if
they fail at something.
o Have difficulty handling money.

8. Moderate Dementia
• During the ‘moderate’ phase, the person’s
problems are more apparent and
disabling. They may:
o Be very forgetful of recent events. Memory
for the distant past seems better, but
some details may be forgotten or
confused.
o Be confused regarding time and place.
o Become lost if away from familiar
surroundings.
o Forget names of family or friends, or
confuse one family member with another.

9. Moderate Dementia
o Forget saucepans and kettles on the stove.
May leave gas unlit.
o Wander around streets, perhaps at night,
sometimes becoming lost.
o Behave inappropriately - for example, going
outdoors in their nightwear.

10. Moderate Dementia
o See or hear things that are not there.
o Become very repetitive.
o Be neglectful of hygiene or eating.
o Become angry, upset or distressed through
frustration.

11. Severe Dementia
During this later stage of dementia, the person is
severely disabled and need total care. At this stage,
the person may:
• Be unable to remember - for even a few minutes –
something they’d just done.
• Lose their ability to understand or use speech.
• Be incontinent.
• Show no recognition of friends and family.
• Need help with eating, washing, bathing, using the
toilet or dressing.

12. Severe Dementia
• Fail to recognise everyday objects.
• Be disturbed at night.
• Be restless, perhaps looking for a long dead
relative.
• Be aggressive, especially when feeling
threatened or closed in.
• Have difficulty walking, eventually perhaps
becoming confined to a wheelchair.
• Have uncontrolled movements.

13. TASK How Dementia Affects This
COOKING The person may forget that they have put food in the
oven or on the stove
SHOPPING Person may forget to pay money or may get confused
which products to choose among the things
displayed
DRIVING Person may forget the way or may not know the
traffic rules
GOING FOR A WALK Person may forget the way back home
SOCIALISING WITH
FRIENDS
Person may forget friends or may find an unknown
person familiar
The Effects of
Dementia

14. IHNA offers qualifications in
aged care, disability and
nursing.
Go to http://ihna.edu.au to kick
start your health career.
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viewing this
presentation!