Journey with Grandpa: A Documentary
Summary
TLDRThe video discusses dementia, a condition affecting memory and behavior, particularly among the elderly. A personal story highlights the impact of dementia on a family member, including memory loss and personality changes. It emphasizes the importance of love, patience, and respect in caring for those with dementia, alongside activities that maintain engagement. The video also stresses the value of medical check-ups, healthy habits, and staying informed. Finally, it introduces the Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA), which offers support to caregivers and those with dementia through various services.
Takeaways
- 🧓 In Singapore, 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 suffer from dementia, a widespread disease among the elderly.
- 🧠 Dementia affects not only memory but also behavior, contrary to popular belief.
- 👴 The speaker's grandfather developed dementia after a urinary tract infection and changed significantly in behavior and memory, forgetting names and focusing obsessively on money.
- 🔄 The speaker reflects on the role reversal, now being the caregiver for their grandfather, who once looked after them.
- 😔 Dementia caused emotional distress for the speaker, especially when their grandfather no longer recognized them.
- 🎸 Before dementia, the speaker used to play guitar for their grandfather, which was still appreciated even after the onset of dementia.
- 🗣 Dementia patients can be very direct and honest in their feedback, sometimes bluntly expressing dissatisfaction.
- 📚 The speaker attended a course on how to care for dementia patients and found it helpful, offering new perspectives on managing the disease.
- 🧬 Dementia is not a natural part of aging but a disease involving the accelerated death of brain cells, leading to memory loss and personality changes.
- 💻 Youths play a vital role in supporting family members with dementia, offering companionship, ensuring medical checkups, and providing information through research.
Q & A
What percentage of people over the age of 65 in Singapore suffer from dementia?
-In Singapore, one in 20 people over the age of 65 suffer from dementia.
What common misconception about dementia is highlighted in the script?
-The misconception is that dementia only affects a person's memory, while in reality, it also affects their behavior.
What personal experience does the speaker share about their grandfather's dementia?
-The speaker shares that their grandfather developed dementia shortly after a urinary tract infection and started forgetting things, becoming very concerned about money. The speaker also mentions how their role reversed, as they had to care for their grandfather.
How did dementia affect the relationship between the speaker and their grandfather?
-The speaker felt a sense of loss when their grandfather forgot their name, and it was as though they were speaking to a stranger, despite being close before.
How did the speaker use music to interact with their grandfather?
-The speaker used to play the guitar and sing for their grandfather, even after he developed dementia, though he would honestly critique the performance if it wasn’t good.
What did the speaker learn from attending a course on dementia?
-The speaker learned that they were already applying many caregiving techniques but gained new perspectives on the signs and symptoms of dementia and how it progresses.
Is dementia exclusive to the elderly population?
-No, while dementia is more common with age, there have been cases of people in their 40s and 50s developing dementia.
What misconceptions exist about people with dementia according to the script?
-There are misconceptions that people with dementia are 'crazy' and no longer capable of making decisions, expressing what they want, or having emotions, which is not true.
What is the role of youth in supporting family members with dementia?
-Youth play a central role by approaching their family members with respect and love, engaging them in activities, ensuring they get medical check-ups, and using the internet to gather valuable information on dementia.
What organization is mentioned in the script that helps provide care for people with dementia?
-The Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA) is mentioned, which provides care, support, and resources for both people with dementia and their caregivers.
Outlines
🧠 Dementia in Singapore and Its Impact on the Elderly
In Singapore, 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 suffer from dementia, a disease that affects both memory and behavior. The speaker shares a personal story about their grandfather, who developed dementia after a urinary tract infection following his wife’s death. The disease caused significant changes in his personality, particularly an obsession with money, and led to memory loss, including forgetting the speaker’s name. This shift in roles, where the speaker began caring for the grandfather, marked a profound emotional experience. Despite the changes, the grandfather retained some awareness, being very direct and honest, especially about the speaker's singing.
💡 Recognizing Dementia as an Illness, Not Insanity
Dementia is not simply 'going crazy' but is an illness where brain cells die rapidly, leading to memory loss and personality changes. While it is more common with age, younger people in their 40s and 50s are also being diagnosed. There's a misconception that dementia strips individuals of their ability to make decisions or express emotions. In reality, many patients retain these abilities, depending on the stage of the illness. Ensuring support for those with dementia is crucial, particularly by helping families and youths understand the disease and engage with patients with compassion.
👨👩👧👦 How Youth Can Support Dementia Patients in Their Families
Youths play an essential role in supporting family members with dementia. Building a strong network of love and support is vital, and simple actions such as spending quality time, showing respect, and engaging in meaningful activities with dementia patients can help maintain relationships. Regular medical check-ups, a healthy lifestyle, and using online resources to gather accurate information about dementia are also crucial steps in managing the condition. Encouraging open communication within the family ensures emotional well-being and a supportive environment.
🏥 AD8 Alzheimer's Association and the Support They Provide
The AD8 Alzheimer's Association, established in 1990, is dedicated to providing care and support for individuals with dementia. They operate four centers that offer nursing care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and social activities, which help alleviate the stress and time constraints on caregivers. AD8 also runs a caregiver support center, which provides advice, workshops, and information to help families take better care of their loved ones suffering from dementia.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Dementia
💡Memory Loss
💡Behavioral Changes
💡Urinary Tract Infection
💡Support Network
💡Respect and Patience
💡Medical Check-ups
💡Alzheimer's Disease
💡Youth Involvement
💡Caregiver Support
Highlights
In Singapore, one in 20 people over the age of 65 suffer from dementia, which affects not only memory but also behavior.
The speaker shares a personal story of their grandfather developing dementia shortly after a urinary tract infection, leading to significant behavioral changes.
Dementia caused the speaker's grandfather to forget names and exhibit obsessive concerns, such as constantly talking about money.
The speaker experienced a role reversal, where they began caring for their grandfather as he had cared for them when they were younger.
It was emotionally difficult for the speaker when their grandfather, once close to them, no longer remembered their name.
The speaker used music to connect with their grandfather, but after dementia set in, the grandfather became more critical and direct in his feedback.
Dementia is described as an illness involving the death of brain cells, leading to memory loss and personality changes.
The speaker learned that dementia patients still have the capacity for emotions, decision-making, and expressing their needs, despite common misconceptions.
The speaker attended a course on dementia care, which provided new perspectives on how to handle and understand the disease.
Youth are encouraged to be compassionate caregivers for family members with dementia, helping to build a supportive environment.
Maintaining a strong family network is crucial for the well-being of dementia patients, and youths play a key role in this support system.
Activities such as playing chess, reading newspapers, and having meals together are essential to keeping dementia patients engaged and maintaining strong relationships.
Regular medical check-ups, a healthy diet, and exercise are important in managing dementia, with youths being advised to help facilitate these for their elderly relatives.
The internet is highlighted as a valuable resource for learning about dementia prevention, care options, and available medical support.
Caregivers of dementia patients can seek support from organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association (ADA), which provides advice, workshops, and care services.
Transcripts
in Singapore one in 20 people over the
age of 65 suffer from dementia which is
a widespread disease among the elderly
contrary to popular belief dementia not
only affects a person's memory but also
their behavior my grandfather for my
sign has dementia it was shortly after
my grandmother passed away and he
started having a urinary tract infection
so this caused him to in a way go gaga
he had to be restrained in a bit and
after that well basically he wasn't
really himself after day he would forget
things really easily and I still
remember that he would always talk about
money his number one concern be about
money because from what I think
previously he actually he was very very
much attached to money so this was was a
part of him that became very prominent
especially after he became a patient of
dementia we when we go out it was more
of me looking after him so in a way like
when I was young he would actually go
after me so right now it became reversed
so it was more like me looking after him
so and right now yeah basically the
conversation was all gonna yeah
at first I was really really sad because
especially when he got the urinary tract
infection and when he was screaming it
was it was it wasn't really himself and
he totally forgot my name
and yeah because we were close to each
other and and then imagine I was quite
young at the time
and so it was quite a shock to my system
and then yeah I I was really shocked
that he didn't remember my name at all
and yeah it was like talking to a person
who we don't recognize you are basically
a stranger who was supposed to be a very
close companion of you well basically I
note that he he had changer he was no
longer my grandfather
previously I would actually play the
guitar for him so it'll be like new pop
songs and I know those here in a video
so I learned simple chords and all that
then I'll sing for him so after that
after he became a dementia patient he's
too enjoyed it because I was playing for
him and he would just fall asleep and
for dementia patients they would very
much be very cut and very honest with
you so for example if I play a song and
it really sucks my singing is totally
bad he'll be very honest and straight
and straight up say that it was not very
good at all well basically self-help is
is the most important that's why I feel
so like the Singapore government wants
us to upgrade our skills so I simply
upgraded mine so I learned about how to
deal with an as I was patient so
basically from from the cost that we
went it was a cost basically only 40
kids teenagers like myself and user
basically so by going for a talk like
that I realized that a lot of things
that they mentioned I was already doing
it already but yeah it opened a few new
perspectives and how things happen the
the signs signs and signs of how it
actually happens
yeah they showed very very interesting
videos but in a way it was a bit later
so yeah but who knows that maybe I may
get dementia one day or my parents or so
we don't know
dementia is an illness it is not normal
imaging it is an illness where there is
death of brain cells at an accelerated
wing as a result there is loss of memory
and personality change so the common one
is that dementia and it comes with age
we used to people which used to say that
this is like an Alzheimer's disease but
recently if you look at some of the
proper our clients some of them we are
actually getting people like
in the 40s in the 50s so it doesn't mean
as one age one will definitely die mass
or dementia but although the risk of
these dimensions as we become older
there's actually the risk of getting the
disease so there's a misconception that
people with dementia are like crazy just
because often they have their own
reality the and behaviors that are often
thought of funny in our reality we don't
understand what the behavior is trying
to tell us we tend to say that they
become crazy and the third one is
actually that when people are diagnosed
with dementia
we often discount the message human
being we don't think that they're still
capable of thinking we don't think that
they are capable of making the decision
or expressing what they want our having
emotions and all these are not true for
person with dementia and depending on
the stage they are they are definitely
still able to express what they want
communicate their choices and definitely
they actually have emotions and feelings
having a strong network of support and
care poor family who have dementia is
very important youth constitute a
central part of the family and they are
vital in helping to weave a
compassionate framework of support and
love there are a number of ways you can
help out at home with a family member
who has dementia
first and foremost approaching parents
and grandparents with respect love and
patience is crucial to maintaining a
pleasant relationship with them
interacting and spending time with them
is very important continue to engage
them in activities such as playing chess
reading the newspapers with them or
something as simple as having meals
again it is important to keep the focus
on the process and not the result of
each activity the main goal is to spend
quality time with them and keep the
relationship fresh
and enjoyable secondly parents and
grandparents should be taken for regular
medical check-ups dementia is often the
result of another health issue such as
depression high blood pressure or
vitamin D deficiency youths can help
them by accompanying their parents and
grandparents for regular medical
check-ups and ensuring that they get
sufficient exercise and consume a
well-balanced diet making sure that
parents and grandparents are healthy is
a great way to keep the mentor at bay
thirdly youth should do what they are
experts at surfing the net there is so
much valuable information on dementia on
the Internet youths can be the source of
this information and help their families
with accurate information of dementia
what it entails
how to prevent and treat it and most
importantly who to approach for help
last but certainly not least talking to
someone be the friend teacher or simply
somebody close to you will go a long way
in helping to solve problems and
maintaining a happy relationship with
family members who have dementia a great
source of information and help is ad8
Alzheimers
Association the a da is an organization
founded in 1990 specialized in providing
care to those who have dementia
today a da has for take a sentence that
of the care and support for the elderly
with dementia the four sentence provide
data on nursing care occupational
therapy physiotherapy and social
activities that can greatly help to
relieve stress and time constraints felt
by caregivers they also have one
caregiver support center to provide
advice information and workshops to help
caregivers take care of their loved ones
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