Journey with Grandpa: A Documentary

Summary

The 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

00:00

🧠 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.

05:01

💡 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.

Keywords

💡Dementia

Dementia is a progressive illness that causes memory loss and changes in behavior due to the death of brain cells. In the video, it is described as a disease commonly associated with old age but also possible in younger individuals. The speaker shares personal experiences with their grandfather, who developed dementia after a urinary tract infection and the loss of his wife.

💡Memory Loss

Memory loss is a major symptom of dementia, affecting an individual's ability to remember people, events, and tasks. The speaker describes how their grandfather forgot their name, which was shocking and emotional, illustrating how dementia can create disconnections in close relationships.

💡Behavioral Changes

In addition to memory loss, dementia often causes significant changes in behavior. The video highlights how the speaker’s grandfather, once very concerned with money, began to obsess over it after developing dementia. These changes in behavior are part of the personality shift that dementia can bring.

💡Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is mentioned as a trigger that exacerbated the speaker's grandfather's dementia symptoms. UTIs can sometimes cause delirium or worsen cognitive issues, especially in the elderly, illustrating how other health issues can interact with dementia.

💡Support Network

A strong support network of family and caregivers is essential for dementia patients. The video emphasizes the importance of youth in caring for elderly family members, encouraging engagement in activities and providing emotional and medical support. This illustrates the social aspect of managing dementia.

💡Respect and Patience

Respect and patience are highlighted as key attitudes to maintain while interacting with people with dementia. The video stresses that even though dementia patients may forget names or act differently, they still have emotions and deserve to be treated with dignity, which helps maintain positive relationships.

💡Medical Check-ups

Regular medical check-ups are crucial for detecting and managing dementia. The speaker encourages family members to accompany their elderly relatives to these check-ups to ensure they receive proper care, emphasizing how other health conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies, can affect cognitive health.

💡Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that primarily affects memory and cognitive functions. The video mentions how dementia was once often considered synonymous with Alzheimer's, but it clarifies that dementia has broader causes, and not all dementia cases are Alzheimer’s.

💡Youth Involvement

The video calls on younger family members to take an active role in helping care for relatives with dementia. Youth can assist with technology, find valuable information online, and engage with their elderly relatives in meaningful ways, showing that they are an important part of the caregiving framework.

💡Caregiver Support

Caregiver support is critical for those caring for dementia patients. The video references the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) and its caregiver support centers, which offer advice, workshops, and other resources to help caregivers manage the emotional and physical demands of looking after a loved one with dementia.

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