The app “A Walk through Dementia” shows the confusing reality of people with dementia and wants to make their everyday life understandable for those who are not affected.
It starts insidiously: Sometimes you can’t think of a name, other times you misplace your bunch of keys. All things that happen to everyone in everyday life. Who thinks of a potentially beginning one dementia?
The very first signs of the disease can become noticeable at an early stage. But it is not easy to interpret them correctly. If relatives or friends become noticeably often forgetful, this should be kept in mind. Those affected begin to gradually change years before the diagnosis is made. The accompanying symptoms show that it is not just a matter of old age. Dementia has other signs such as difficulty concentrating, disorientation or language problems. Those affected often ask the same questions in the same conversation or cannot find the right words. Objects are constantly misplaced, names of previously known people can no longer be assigned. If behavioral problems are added, it is high time to act.
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Cover up and deny
At the beginning of the disease, those affected notice themselves that they are becoming increasingly forgetful and disoriented. Fearing it, they won’t admit it and will do anything to cover it up and deny it. As the disease progresses, they no longer notice their condition. Even though the number of dementia cases increases with age, there are also people who develop it well before they reach old age.
Symptoms of dementia make even simple tasks like walking around the neighborhood or shopping really difficult. Since it is almost impossible for relatives of those affected to understand what is going on in those affected, the organization Alzheimer’s Research UK has developed an app that is intended to make everyday life understandable for those who are not affected. People living with different forms of dementia were involved in the development.
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Typical everyday situations
Die App “A Walk through Dementia” shows three typical everyday situations that pose a challenge for people with dementia: in the supermarket, on the road and at home. The website explains how it all works: “In virtual reality, you look at everyday life through a new lens. Some of the symptoms you’ll experience may be familiar, while others may surprise you.”
In the video, a woman tries to find her way home through the streets near her home. In doing so, she confuses other people with someone she knows, takes the wrong direction and experiences symptoms common to people who live with dementia – or know someone who lives with dementia. The whole thing is accompanied by a spoken inner monologue by those affected. The video also reveals the fears and anxieties that those affected may experience when making a wrong turn, as well as the short-term memory problems they struggle with. This all gets worse when a busy street or a crowded street is involved.
The site further explains:
“Dementia is a misunderstood disease. Many people think it’s just a side effect of aging. We tend not to think beyond memory loss when it comes to symptoms. In reality, dementia is a condition caused by diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s , which damage different areas of the brain and lead to a variety of difficult symptoms.”