In a shocking revelation, the beloved actor Bruce Willis quit acting after his unfortunate diagnosis of dementia. Since then he has been pretty much out of the limelight, till recently when his wife, Emma Heming Willis commented that it is unclear if the actor understands he has dementia.
Willis has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), which is a result of damaged neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, shared by the National Institute On Ageing (NIA). The institute informed that FTD causes unusual behaviours, emotional problems, and difficulty concentrating, working, and walking. ‘FTD is rare and tends to occur at a younger age than other forms of dementia,’ shared NIA.
Talking about his condition on a talk show, Willis’s wife shared that the disease takes a toll not just on the person diagnosed, but as well as their loved ones and caregivers. To ease things for caregivers looking after dementia patients, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Sanjeev Kumar Jain, CEO and Founder, Nema Eldercare, and Dr Chetna Luthra, Clinical Psychologist, Lissun to suggest some tips.
Effective Communication
Jain shared that when it comes to dementia, a frequent occurrence is hampered communication abilities. He suggested that caregivers need to be considerate of this aspect and not approach the situation with annoyance or carelessness.
He shared that using straightforward language without using too many pronouns, maintaining eye contact, and using non-verbal clues like gestures and facial expressions, can help dementia patients gain better understanding.
Understanding The Symptoms
Since FTD presents with several behavioural symptoms, it can be hard to understand which actions are symptoms and which are not. Listing some common symptoms of FTD, Dr Luthra shared:
- Patients often become disinhibited or show apathy.
- They may present with a rigid mood and behaviour, that lacks emotional warmth and an interest in daily tasks.
- Socially inappropriate behaviour that sows heightened impulsivity, distractibility, and a lack of self-awareness and insight.
- Changes in eating habits like binge eating and craving sweets.
- Motor difficulties.
- Loss of language skills.
- Inability to find the correct words, assign meaning to words, and difficulty naming and identifying objects and people.
Helping Slow Down Dementia Symptoms
One major aspect of dementia is cognitive decline, which can be slowed through engaging in activities like puzzles, reminiscence therapy, and music therapy. These activities will not only help the patient get a better grip on their declining cognition but also help them achieve an elevated mood.
Support For Caregivers
It can be exceptionally challenging to care for a person who is gradually losing a grip on their being. That is why caregivers need to be patient and approach dementia patients with empathy, despite the most dire circumstances.
Also Read: Study: Talk Therapy May Improve Mental Health Of Dementia Patients
Additionally, it is of utmost importance for you to look after yourselves as well. Caregiving can be a huge burden on your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Seeking support from professionals, support groups, care services, and loved ones can help you deal with the challenges of caregiving in a better, healthier, and happier way.