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Dementia: Around 3000 people in the district

2020-09-21T15:10:59.308Z


Dementia? What is that, actually? Today's World Alzheimer's Day is used by organizations to raise awareness about important issues.


Dementia?

What is that, actually?

Today's World Alzheimer's Day is used by organizations to raise awareness about important issues.

  • Almost 3,000 people in the district are affected by dementia

  • Many people don't know enough about the disease

  • An awareness campaign is planned for World Alzheimer's Day

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

- Ten percent of all citizens in the district who are older than 65 years, according to an estimate by the Tölz District Office, suffer from some form of dementia.

Expressed in numbers, this means that between 2,700 and 2,800 men and women in the region are affected.

Despite its widespread use, the disease is a taboo subject.

It is no coincidence that the motto of today's World Alzheimer's Day is: “We have to talk”.

Dieter Buyer sees it that way too.

"There are still many knowledge deficits in the population," says the chairman of the Alzheimer Society Isar-Loisachtal.

Too many people still believed that dementia was a normal part of aging.

That is not true: “There are enough 100-year-olds who are in top shape,” says buyers.

In fact, it is a disease in which protein molecules are deposited in the brain.

The result: nerve tracts or cells die and certain functions are lost.

Mostly, the short-term memory is affected first.

“An insidious disease,” says the expert.

An extremely stressful situation for relatives

As a matter of fact.

First of all, those affected forget little things.

At some point they have a hard time following a conversation.

In the terminal stages, some don't even recognize the people they love.

"It is important to react empathically," says Ellen Wagner.

According to the head of the Caritas contact point old and self-employed, relatives should not try to bring Alzheimer's patients back to reality.

For example, if your own husband introduces his wife to someone other than his wife, he should not be informed of his error.

This is exactly what happened to a woman who sought advice from the contact point.

"She reacted well and only said that it was nice that he had a wife," says Wagner.

These are extremely stressful situations for the relatives.

It gets even worse when families shy away from giving those affected to care - even if only for a short time.

"For some, it is simply difficult to find the right offer," says Christiane Bäumler, head of the Seniors Department at the District Office.

Those affected receive advice and help from her, among others.

But the contact point for old and self-employed also offers consultation hours and even has its own group of helpers.

Book campaign of the Alzheimer Society aims to raise awareness

Advice and help is also available from the Alzheimer Society Isar-Loisachtal.

“An early diagnosis is also important,” emphasizes Dieter Buyer.

At an early stage of the disease, those affected can still take care of important things themselves, such as power of attorney.

The problem: many initially do not want to admit the disease.

Buyer recommends an appointment in a memory clinic, as it is in large hospitals such as the Klinikum rechts der Isar in Munich.

Imaging procedures such as MRI or CT show the deposits in the brain - and make the disease easier to accept.

At the initiative of the Alzheimer Society Isar-Loisachtal, interested parties will find a selection of books on the subject of dementia from Monday to Saturday, September 26, in the Winzerer bookstore in Bad Tölz and in the Wolfratshausen city library.

The association and Christiane Bäumler from the Seniors Department would have liked to organize more campaigns around World Alzheimer's Day on September 21.

“But that's not possible because of Corona,” regrets Bäumler.

It is all the more important that the topic is discussed more openly overall.

"Dementia is no reason to be ashamed," emphasizes Bäumler.

And: "In principle, it can affect anyone."

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-09-21

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