How to live with dementia: New book helps transform sufferers' lives
A REVOLUTIONARY “road map” to dementia that helps sufferers communicate with their loved ones as the illness progresses has been hailed a breakthrough in the care of the elderly.
The guide, Words For A Journey: The Art Of Being With Dementia, which is already being used by doctors in Japan, outlines how dementia patients relate to the world and how best to relate to them.
Experts say it will give those with a new diagnosis hope that they can continue independently for as long as possible and encourage them to see the disease as a journey rather than the end of their lives.
The guide works by distilling some 300 experiences described by sufferers into 40 common problems that people with dementia face.
By singling out common experiences and presenting what has been found to be the best solution, the guide can help sufferers cope with their illness and give relatives a better understanding of the disease’s impact on their behaviour, particularly communication.
The method behind the guide, known as a “pattern language”, is more commonly used in designing cities.
It allows architects to draw upon the experiences of others in the most simplified way when creating complex systems of movement and logistics.
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| The guide works by distilling some 300 experiences described by sufferers into 40 common problems |
