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Forgotten, but not gone Chances are, as you grow older someone close to you will be diagnosed with dementia - a progressive loss of cognitive abilities, such as memory, significant enough to have an impact on a person’s daily activities.  The stats tell us that it’s an increasingly common illness. About 70,000 people in Aotearoa are currently living with the disease, and by 2050 this is projected to balloon to 170,000. It is natural to view it with fear, but with growing research, education, medication options, lifestyle changes and understanding, the future doesn’t need to look as dim as we first imagined. Whether dementia has touched your world yet or not, it’s worth considering these questions. How can we remove the stigma surrounding it, and then work to delay its progression? How can we improve the day-to-day lives of those living with cognitive decline? How does one get diagnosed, and what happens next? It is often a loved one who notices a difference. Examples of changes could include:
Unusual social behaviours If you notice an accumulation of these differences in a loved one and it concerns you, gently suggest a trip to the GP for a check up. Dementia New Zealand lists some useful ideas on their website (dementia.nz) for how to manage this doctor’s trip and come away with a successful outcome. It would be useful to let the GP know about your concerns prior to an appointment so they are engaged and prepared. To reduce time pressure, consider booking a double appointment, and come prepared with an honest list of concerns and any incidents that have occured. Getting an early diagnosis can be a blessing, allowing the person and their whānau time to adjust, access support, come to terms with what is happening, plan for the future and make choices about how they might choose to live in the next few years.  Across the globe, there is ongoing scientific research into how doctors arrive at the dementia diagnosis of Alzheimers, or evidence of whether a person is even likely to develop Alzheimers in the future. In early 2024, the UK-based news source ‘The Times’ published an article entitled “Alzheimer’s blood test detects risk 15 years before symptoms”. According to the article “...scientists in Sweden have taken a simple testing kit that is already commercially available to researchers, and found that it can detect proteins in the blood, which can cause Alzheimer’s and start to build up on the brain 10 to 15 years before symptoms start showing.” According to Bart De Strooper, a professor of Alzheimer’s research at University College London (UCL), “the findings bring us very close to a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that can be used in daily practice.” With this sort of research and development, perhaps in the not too distant future we could get a regular, routine diagnosis screening test once we reach the risk age for the disease to begin to develop. Technology is also playing a part in early diagnosis. Researchers have found that virtual reality technology could be key in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages, according to Australia’s ‘Aged Care Guide’ website. New results suggest that difficulty with spatial awareness in middle-aged people may be an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. During the study, researchers asked participants to ‘navigate within a virtual environment while wearing VR (virtual reality) headsets’. VR headsets incorporate sight and hearing through technology which creates an alternative environment to the one they are physically in. The headset fits over the person’s eyes and ears and sensors within the headset change the perspective of the virtual environment. Although this innovative research still needs more work to develop the use of virtual reality, used in conjunction with blood and other tests, it could help diagnose the potential for the development of Alzheimer’s disease earlier. Reducing the risk Some risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, like age or genetics, can’t be helped, however there are other factors we can have a chance at influencing.
What happens if you get a diagnosis? Nothing has to change immediately! Dementia NZ suggests that for some people one of the best ways of coming to terms with a diagnosis is to talk to other people who have already crossed this bridge. Their website says: “Discussing hopes and fears with others facing the same issues can help reduce some of the anxiety and sense of aloneness that a diagnosis can bring, both for people with dementia and those who are supporting them. Understanding that a diagnosis does not change who a person is and that it is possible to still enjoy a good quality of life is an important part of learning to live well with dementia.” Somewhere down the line you will need to make some changes though and that will involve considering where to live. Staying at home in a family environment vs going into a care facility The choice of at home care or a care facility can depend on your culture. It is more common for those from a Pacific Island or Maori background to choose to keep living at home with the support of family and community help. For those who choose that route, Dementia NZ has activity respite programs, and every region has organisations which can help. For example, Brain Tree (www.canterburybraincollective.org) is an innovative facility in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, that supports people living with neurological conditions to live well in the community. Their purpose is to enable people with a neurological condition to keep living a life full of potential. They provide a practical, everyday support with a total-wellness approach covering exercise, diet, cognitive stimulation, education and social connection – which has been proven to have a hugely positive impact on the lives of those living with neurological conditions.  If moving into residential care will ensure your loved one’s safety and quality of life, the next step is to find a new home that will look after them as lovingly as you have. Research is key, and visiting agedadvisor.nz is a great place to start. Aged Advisor collects independent aged care reviews on rest home and retirement care facilities across New Zealand.
Once you have shortlisted what you think might be suitable new home options, simply visit the facilities on agedadvisor.nz for non-biased views shared by family, staff, residents and whānau. Some good questions to ask when searching for the right place to live are:
Some innovative options are beginning to spring up as those in the industry begin to prepare for the 1 in 10 Kiwis expected to be diagnosed. With the projected increase of dementia in the coming years in mind, Ryman Healthcare has rebuilt its model from the ground up, resulting in the myRyman Life programme. In a Stuff article from September 2023, their project specialist, Caroline Bartle, notes, “It’s...about spontaneity, happiness and connection with others, themselves and their environment. We provide activities both inside and out that help our residents to reconnect with the lives they lived before they came to us.” All of Ryman Healthcare’s New Zealand villages, from Whangarei to Invercargill, have now gained Dementia Friendly Accreditation as recognised by Alzheimers New Zealand. Specialist dementia care is offered at 32 of their villages, and all have dementia friendly gardens. Similarly, nine Summerset villages offer a specialised Memory Care centre. Their website comments that they “provide modern apartment style living with innovative design to create a world-class environment for people living with dementia. Coupled with resident centric philosophy to improve the lives of people living with dementia, residents enjoy a welcoming atmosphere designed specifically for them.” Perhaps it’s time New Zealand care and villages followed in the path of our Australian neighbours, who have begun to think about how they can accommodate the growing numbers of residents with dementia. At The Prince Charles Hospital, on Brisbane’s northside, a village-like community area named ‘Charlie’s village’ has been developed within the Cognitive Assessment and Mangement (CAM) Unit – the extended care ward that cares for patients with dementia and other cognitive impairments. The idea is to present a space which gives those suffering a sense of the familiar, and includes familiar facades like a hairdresser, bakery, and post office. Being in a hospital-type setting can be distressing, so Charlie’s Village allows residents to wander in a safe and familiar environment. Where to find help: MATE WAREWARE: https://www.matewareware.co.nz This website provides information for whānau on how to manage mate wareware as well as information about what actions and behaviours can be adopted across the life span to help prevent this disease. Can also be accessed as an app on both Android and Apple phones. DEMENTIA NZ: https://dementia.nz/ or Freephone 0800 433 636. Providing information, support for all ages, resources, advice, meetings and more for people caring for family/whanau affected by dementia in New Zealand. ALZHEIMERS NZ: https://alzheimers.org.nz/ or Freephone 0800 004 001. Support, information, education programmes and services for individuals and family/whanau affected by dementia in New Zealand. Reference: Aged Advisor 2025   1. Easter Treats for people with swallowing problems Catering for people with a swallowing problem at Easter can be tricky. It’s hard to know what treats you can give or even to remember many Easter treats are food. Here are some ideas: Pureed diet (smooth and uniform texture)
Minced and Moist diet: (needs to be very finely cut or mashed). All options suggested for a pureed diet plus:''
 Easy to Chew diet: (must be able to be easily and cleanly cut with the side of a fork) All of the options in “pureed” and “minced and moist” plus:
https://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/can_people_on_modified_diets_have_food_treats_.pdf 2. No Sunshine No Vitamin D Daylight saving is over and the days are getting shorter which reduces our ability to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for:
To compensate for the lack of sunlight, find out what foods contain vitamin D by visiting our website’s information and handy hints page or follow this link: https://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/vitamin_d_and_the_winter_months__.pdf If you need help to improve your dietary intake of Vitamin D our friendly dietitian can help.  3. Enable Equipment We have therapists who are accredited assessors for Enable (government funded equipment. If you are waiting on Health NZ teams for your equipment needs. For the price of an assessment and doing an application we can help you access Enable equipment quicker than waiting on the public waiting list. Repairs and Maintenance Keep this information by your phone First identify if it’s Enable equipment, there should be a label like this Contact one of the subcontractors listed below: More Mobility/ Mobytech Ltd 113 Blenheim Road, Christchurch 8041 Phone: 0800 662 983, (03) 348 3460 Option 3 or 027 516 2340 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.moremobility.co.nz Mobility Services Ltd (Wheelchair Services (SI) Ltd) (not generally a mobile service) 29 Shakespeare Road, Christchurch 8240 Phone: 03) 366 8815 or 0275 383 584 Email: [email protected] Website www.mobilitysystems.co.nz ' Rehab Enterprises, mobile workshop. Contact Owen Henwood on Phone: 027 230 5974 or email: [email protected] Total equipment services Ltd. Phone 03 423 3574. Email: [email protected] Alteration or Modification of Equipment If you wish to have a piece of equipment altered or modified this is not a repair or maintenance. Call the therapist. Re-allocating Equipment You may have some equipment you are using for more than one resident e.g. a hoist which is allocated to one resident. If the resident allocated to the equipment no longer requires it, the equipment can be reallocated to another resident by the occupational therapist. Please discuss this with the Therapist. Returning Enable equipment Phone 0800 ENABLE (0800 362 253), Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5pm. Or follow this link to email https://www.enable.co.nz/tools-resources/return-repair-equipment  Enable funded Wheelchairs - Ex- Templeton clients Health NZ community teams are contracted to provide level 1 and level 2 Wheeled Mobility and Postural Management for the ex-Templeton clients. However if you wish to get a wheelchair quicker you can pay Therapy professionals to do an application. For those who aren’t eligible for an Enable funded wheelchairs you can contract Therapy Professionals to do the assessment and source a chair you would need to pay for. Note if you privately purchase a chair it is your responsibility to do and pay for any maintenance or repairs. 4. Restrictive equipment Some of the equipment prescribed by Occupational and Physiotherapists can be considered a restraint under some circumstances. To help decide whether a piece of restrictive equipment is a restraint or not follow this chart  We have updated our Enabler Recommendations form to better reflect Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Service standards on restraints. It will give the clinical rational, list the circumstances the equipment is prescribed for and any possible adverse effects of the equipment’s use. If the equipment is used outside the therapists consented recommended use it is considered a restraint and you will need to follow your restraints policy. If equipment already prescribed by a Therapist could be considered a restraint please contact the Therapist.  5. Skin injuries caused by pressure For those of us caring for people who barely move or rely on others to move them, it is important to know how to best look after their skin. Pressure injuries, otherwise known as pressure areas, ulcers or bedsores, are among the negative effects of immobility. What is a pressure injury? A pressure injury is damage to an area of skin, usually around a bony part of the body, which has been under pressure for some time. The pressure stops the blood flow feeding the skin in that area, if the pressure is not removed the skin will break down and eventually become an ulcer. Friction from chaffing, or rubbing over these bony areas can also cause sores and ulcers. For more information visit our website’s information and handy hints page or follow this link. https://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/skin_injuries_caused_by_pressure.pdf Pressure injuries are a risk for frail and immobile people in care. Prevention is always the aim but unfortunately pressure injuries still occur. Our therapists can help with education and managing current or recurring pressure injuries by giving advice on:
Our friendly Physio, Occupational Therapists and Dietitians can help. Just contact Therapy Professionals on phone: 03 377 5280 or Email: [email protected]. Have a happy and safe Easter from the team at Therapy Professionals  Can people on Modified Diets have food treats? At any celebration - Christmas, Birthdays and Easter, it’s common for us to have food treats like sweets and nuts. Unfortunately we notice a great increase in choking incidents and chest infections caused by aspiration over holiday seasons, because people forget these treats are food. Yes, people on modified diets can have treats however they need to be modified in the same ways as their usual foods. In order to help you keep your clients safe from choking and chest infections our Speech Language Therapists have come up with a few alternatives for you to try.  Pureed diet (smooth and uniform texture)
 Minced and Moist diet: (needs to be very finely cut or mashed). All options suggested for a pureed diet plus:
Easy to Chew diet: (must be able to be easily and cleanly cut with the side of a fork) All of the options in pureed and minced and minced and moist plus:
This list is not a complete list; you may come up with some of your own ideas as long as what you’re giving your clients is the correct texture prescribed If you require any assistance, our Speech Language Therapists can help.
Just contact us: Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] |
AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
May 2025
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