In the last of our blogs marking World Alzheimer’s Month, we look at the topic of frailty. This year, Alzheimer’s Month is based around the theme #AskAboutDementia, and is focused on encouraging people to talk about dementia, tackling myths and increasing understanding of the condition.
“Frailty is one of those words that’s often heard but equally often misunderstood,” says Emily Forster, Quality Assurance and Service Development Manager at ADSS. “For people with dementia, the link between that and other health conditions is complex. Being aware of the full picture is really important in making sure they’re getting right support to enjoy the best possible quality of life.” Want to know more about what frailty means? Click here.
To find out more about frailty and dementia, we spoke to some of the experts within our ADSS network. Dr Kevin Tan, MRCGP MBChB DGM, is a former Clinical Lead in Frailty and Dementia at DGS Health. “The link between dementia and frailty is complex, but undisputed,” he says. “Not only is there evidence that the progression of dementia leads to frailty, but the reverse is also true: frailty predicts the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.
“Frailty is measured on the Clinical Frailty Scale. This is based on the extent to which you rely on others to help with daily activities, such as bathing, cooking and shopping. The greater the reliance, the more likely you are to experience muscle wasting which in turn increases the risk of falling, leading to injuries and further health issues.
“So it’s really important that people with dementia, particularly in the early stages, stay active and carry on with normal daily activities as far as they can. In doing so, you are giving yourself the best chance of slowing the progression of both dementia and frailty.” The NHS has some useful guidance on staying active for people with dementia.
Mark Kitchingham, a Nurse Consultant in Older Adults Mental Health who works with the Dartford Gravesham and Swanley Memory Assessment Service and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership’s Mental Health Together + programme, agrees with Dr Tan on the importance of staying active.
“Frailty and dementia are very interlinked conditions,” he says. “Dementia is common in frailty and frailty is common in dementia. Early diagnosis is very important so that the right support can be put in place.
“In terms of prevention, it is important to keep physically active every day, even if this is a five-minute walk , doing the housework, or exercising in the chair if there are mobility issues. It’s also important to keep mentally stimulated, for example completing Sudoku, word searches or crossword puzzles. A healthy diet is crucial, including five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, oily fish twice per week and cutting down on food high in saturated fats, salt and sugar. It’s also really important to look after your hearing and vision.” Want to know more? Here are some useful guidelines on healthy eating.
At The Beacon, ADSS’s day support centre for people living with dementia, manager Sherrie Boyd and colleagues are very much aware of the importance of recognising the signs of frailty. “When an individual first comes to us we start with an assessment of their physical and cognitive abilities,” she says. “We then follow up with an annual review, and ask family members and carers to share their insights so we have a proper picture of how that person’s needs are changing over time.”
That information is then used to update care plans and, where needed, adapt activities including after periods of ill-health. “If someone’s been in hospital we’ll visit them at home to reassess their health and mobility,” Sherrie says. Sessions at The Beacon also include a wide range of physical and mental activities. “The two things go together,” says Sherrie. “Mental stimulation improves cognition, and that often supports better overall physical functioning.”
ADSS is here to help and support, whatever you need to #askaboutdementia. Our Dementia Co-ordinators provide practical and emotional support for people living with dementia and their carers across the Kent and Medway region. We also run a range of services in the community, including our Memory Cafés and drop-in sessions where local experts can answer your questions about living with dementia. Contact us to find out more.