The Condition:
Dementia is a common condition that develops when elderly people reach a certain age. There are around 850,000 people in the UK with Dementia. One in 14 people over 65 will develop Dementia, and the condition affects 1 in 6 people over 80.
The number of people with Dementia is increasing because people are living longer. It is estimated that by 2025, the number of people with Dementia in the UK will have increased to around 1 million.
The Symptoms:
Dementia is caused by changes within the brain, and different types of Dementia will affect the brain in different ways. For example, in Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus (a small organ within the temporal lobe) is often affected first. This makes it difficult for someone to form new memories or learn new information. A person with Alzheimer’s may struggle to remember what they did earlier that day, or what they have just said, meaning they may repeat themselves in conversation.
Other affected areas affected by Dementia may include:
- Mental sharpness and quickness
- Disorientation
- Understanding
- Judgement
- Mood
- Movement
- Difficulties carrying out daily activities
- Language
- Sight
Choosing the right chair:
Having the right Specialist Seating in place can make a huge difference to the quality of life, of an elderly person suffering from Dementia. We caught up with our Assessor Annabell Thomas, who covers the Wales region. Here’s her top tips:
- Consider safety
The dimensions of the chair need to be right for the individual. Making sure the width of the chair is perfect will provide a feeling of comfort and safety. Also, if they are in the early stages of Dementia they may still be able to get up unassisted and walk around – therefore the seat height needs to be correct.
- Consider functionality required within the chair
It’s worth considering what functions are required within the chair. Useful functions include: adjustability, Tilt in Space (TIS), integral pressure relief, motorisation, leg elevation, and back angle recline. However each individual has different needs, so a seating assessment is always highly recommended and provided by us free of charge.
- Think about future deterioration
If the condition is likely to get progressively worse over time, then it is worth considering the level of chair that you go for. Purchasing a more advanced chair from the outset may pay off and save you money, if in 6 months or a years’ time they are going to need additional functionality
- Be practical
It’s sensible to go for a wipeable, waterproof fabric to avoid the chair getting damaged and have the ability to keep it clean.
- Consider the environment
It’s worth considering the room that the chair is going to be in, and how much space there is. Also making sure it will fit through the doorways, down corridors and into any lifts that are used by the individual. One of the best benefits of having a specialist chair is for the individual to be able to get involved with social activity.
- Think about colour
Bright colours are often suggested for individuals with Dementia. Vision is usually affected a lot, so brighter colours are easier to see and make associations with.
Our top three chairs:
The top three chairs Annabell recommends for people with Dementia are: The Careflex Hydrcare Chair, the Kirton Omega Chair and the Careflex Hydrotilt Chair.
Please contact us online or call us on 0345 521 1819, to book an assessment with Annabell. Or alternatively if you are outside of Wales one of our other experienced assessors can come out to visit you.
