Welsh offered advice on avoiding onset of dementia
EXPERTS at a Welsh care company are offering people in the country advice on avoiding the onset of the disease (May, 2017).
Abacare, which has offices in Rhondda Cynon Taf, is sharing top tips for reducing the risk of dementia.
Peter Angelides, CEO at the award-winning Abacare, said: “There are currently 850,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia and numbers are predicted to rise to one million by the year 2025 and two million by 2051.
“The main reason for the increase is the fact that we are living longer. It affects one in 14 people aged 65 and over and one in six people over the age of 80. Type two diabetes and obesity rates are also rising and playing a part in the rise of dementia sufferers, along with other risk factors such as smoking, drinking, high blood pressure, poor diet and lack of exercise.
“Early dementia symptoms include difficulty following conversation, repeating questions, misplacing objects, getting slower at grasping ideas, showing poor judgement or becoming withdrawn. Unfortunately there is no test for dementia and no cure but there are some things people can do to help reduce their risk:
- Get blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Research has found that people with high levels of LDL cholesterol are more likely to have amyloid plaques in the brain, which can lead to the disease.
- Exercise more. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week to help reduce the risk of vascular-related dementia.
- Quit for good. Heavy smoking has been found to double the risk of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia so try quitting for good.
- Watch your weight. A British Medical Journal study revealed obesity in middle-age was linked with more than a 70% higher risk of dementia in older age.
- Control your diet. A Meditteranean diet has been recommend as lots of fruit, vegetables, fish and low levels of saturated fat and red meat can help people reduce the risk of developing thinking and memory problems.
- Avoid binge-drinking. Binge-drinking can increase the risk of dementia so limit your intake.
- Check diabetes symptoms. Having untreated type two diabetes can double your risk of Alzheimer’s so get them checked.
“While this advice won’t prevent the disease for sure it is always a good idea to do everything you can to help in any way.”
Abacare operates a professional Care Management Team that is committed to providing high quality care to individuals in their own homes.
The large team of trained, specialist, care workers provide positive based outcomes and person centred care to people throughout Wales.
Abacare’s core values, instilled into every staff member, include ‘make us proud’, ‘focus on our service users’ wellbeing’, ‘communicate, listen well and speak with respect’, ‘be passionate, honest, caring and considerate’, ‘recruit and develop the very best’ and ‘lead by example’.
It believes it offers inspiring work for inspirational people.
It is a member of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Ceretas (formerly British Association of Domiciliary Care), The National Homecare Council and The Information Commissioners Office (Data Protection). It is also registered with the Care Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
Abacare has been awarded an Investors in People accolade for its staff training and development for the fourth year running.
Investors in People is a national standard, which provides a framework that helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the effective management and development of their staff.
It was also named Britain’s ‘Most Outstanding Care Agency’ at the UK Over 50s Housing Awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
For more information about Abacare, please call 01443 742645 or visit www.abacare.org.uk. Alternatively, please follow the company on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/Yn4zmS or on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/visitabacare.
