Dementia
In the UK, there are approx 820,000 people living with dementia. Dementia can affect a person of any age, but is more common in older people.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms including memory loss, decreased reasoning skills, impaired communication and changes in behaviour and emotions. Our consultants with specialist expertise in dementia care work closely with our dementia nurses to improve the care and experience of patients attending our hospitals with memory problems.
Everyone is at risk of developing dementia and there is currently no cure. Although each person will experience dementia in their own way, eventually those affected are unable to care for themselves and need help with all aspects of daily life. All dementias result in changes in and the ultimately death of brain tissue; therefore dementia is a terminal illness, although some people might live for many years after diagnosis.