Psychiatrist Dr Kailas Roberts helps us understand what dementia is and how it is diagnosed. He discusses the four most common dementia diagnoses and how they commonly present. He talks about other health conditions that may mimic early-stage dementia.
Learn about what tests are done to diagnose dementia, medication that may improve symptoms, and strategies to help maintain cognitive function, even after a diagnosis of dementia.
In this episode:
- Dementia is an umbrella term for a problem with cognition that causes impairment of daily function
- The four main dementia diagnoses and how each one presents
- Other health conditions that may look like an emerging dementia
- The steps in making a diagnosis of dementia
- Different tests that are done to confirm a dementia diagnosis
- The benefits of a team of allied health providers to support the person after diagnosis
- Medications that may help improve cognition in Alzheimer’s disease
- Treating other conditions as well
- Strategies that people can use to maintain cognitive function after diagnosis
Resources mentioned:
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More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast:
Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.
We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.
Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.
Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business.
Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.
Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home.
We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.
Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Pharmacy Guild