8 The mental health and well-being of people living with dementia
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Alisoun Milne
Abstract
Chapters 8 & 9 focus on dementia. There is growing evidence of links between lifecourse inequalities and dementia. These are a mixture of structural issues such as poor education; mental health issues such as persistent mid-life depression; and physical conditions such as diabetes. Age related risk factors include social isolation and loneliness. These links reinforce the ‘accumulation of risks’ thesis and suggest that the causes of dementia are more complex and situated than is traditionally believed. In community-based populations, depression is estimated to affect about a fifth of people with Alzheimer’s disease and a third of those with vascular dementia; up to half of care home residents with dementia have depression. Dementia produces high rates of anxiety symptoms particularly restlessness, agitation and fear; delirium is relatively common. The issues that protect quality of life of people with dementia are: psychological wellbeing, autonomy, having a meaningful role, acceptance, agency, promotion of selfhood and identity, relationships, financial security, and religious beliefs. Pre-dementia attributes such as personality type and how well a person adjusts to their diagnosis have a stronger influence on quality of life than having the condition per se. Most work capturing the perspectives of people living with dementia is done with those in the earlier stages.
Abstract
Chapters 8 & 9 focus on dementia. There is growing evidence of links between lifecourse inequalities and dementia. These are a mixture of structural issues such as poor education; mental health issues such as persistent mid-life depression; and physical conditions such as diabetes. Age related risk factors include social isolation and loneliness. These links reinforce the ‘accumulation of risks’ thesis and suggest that the causes of dementia are more complex and situated than is traditionally believed. In community-based populations, depression is estimated to affect about a fifth of people with Alzheimer’s disease and a third of those with vascular dementia; up to half of care home residents with dementia have depression. Dementia produces high rates of anxiety symptoms particularly restlessness, agitation and fear; delirium is relatively common. The issues that protect quality of life of people with dementia are: psychological wellbeing, autonomy, having a meaningful role, acceptance, agency, promotion of selfhood and identity, relationships, financial security, and religious beliefs. Pre-dementia attributes such as personality type and how well a person adjusts to their diagnosis have a stronger influence on quality of life than having the condition per se. Most work capturing the perspectives of people living with dementia is done with those in the earlier stages.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and boxes iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Foreword vi
- Introduction 1
- Demography, topography and mental health problems in later life 7
- Mental health, psychological well-being, successful ageing and quality of life 33
- The life course, inequalities and mental health in later life 53
- The impact of age-related risks and inequalities on mental health in later life 81
- Socio-economic disadvantage and poverty 105
- Abuse, mistreatment and neglect 115
- The fourth age, frailty and transitions 129
- The mental health and well-being of people living with dementia 143
- Conceptualising dementia 165
- Promotion and prevention 199
- Conclusion 237
- Notes 259
- References 263
- Index 337
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and boxes iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Foreword vi
- Introduction 1
- Demography, topography and mental health problems in later life 7
- Mental health, psychological well-being, successful ageing and quality of life 33
- The life course, inequalities and mental health in later life 53
- The impact of age-related risks and inequalities on mental health in later life 81
- Socio-economic disadvantage and poverty 105
- Abuse, mistreatment and neglect 115
- The fourth age, frailty and transitions 129
- The mental health and well-being of people living with dementia 143
- Conceptualising dementia 165
- Promotion and prevention 199
- Conclusion 237
- Notes 259
- References 263
- Index 337
