Impact of early dementia diagnosis on the individual & family and why it is important to record the signs and symptoms. Methods used and what I have used.

Early signs and diagnosis of dementia have a massive impact on the individual and their family and friends. I recently went out to complete an assessment on a new client with dementia, which is not unusual apart from this lady did not live with a spouse or family member or in sheltered accommodation. This lady lived alone with her closest family living many miles away and just two local friends and a social worker assigned .
Our new client had she been released from hospital after being sectioned under the mental health act three months ago. Our support was going to be four calls per day for 30 minutes each call. I was met by a very confused, angry and tearful client in the early stages of dementia. She was confused and kept repeating the following “what’s happening to me”?, “why can I not remember things”? “why am I feeling so angry”?. She also addes that she wanted to die and seemed very angry. She told me she wanted to ring her sister and picked up the phone. I managed to chat to her elderly sister and she went on to tell me the strain it was putting on her and our clients close friends. She went on to tell me she would call her over 10 times per day at any time of the day or night. Her friends had children and the strain on them was affecting their children too. I thanked her sister for sharing this with me before calming everything down with our client. Half used medication blister packs were all over the house. I managed to complete an assessment and I arranged for our carer to record additional notes in her daily log to assist with a meeting arranged with her social worker the following week. I shared this information with her relating to her mood swings throughout the day and following prompting/assisted her with medication. Our client had been placed on antipychotic medication during her stay in hospital, which stayed with her upon release. By documenting four times per day and time critical information a pattern emerged around the