保持独立于痴呆症-Dementia guide

被诊断出患有痴呆症会对您和您的生活产生重大影响。您和您的家人可能会担心自己可以照顾多长时间，尤其是当您独自生活时。

Everyone experiences dementia differently and the rate at which symptoms become worse varies from person to person.

但是，有了正确的支持，许多人独立生活了几年。

患有痴呆症的时候住在家里

在痴呆症的早期阶段，许多人能够以与诊断前相同的方式享受生活。

痴呆诊断后，您应该就如何尽可能长时间地做对您重要的事情以及有关本地支持和服务的信息，从而获得建议。

But as the illness gets worse, it is likely that you will find it more difficult to look after yourself and your home. You may then need extra help with daily activities, such as housework, shopping and adaptations to your home.

How to get extra help and support

Apply for a needs assessment from the adult social services department of your local council. This will help to identify where you might benefit from help, such as with meals or housework.

需求评估应面对面进行。如果您不确定自己的需求可能是什么，那么最好和您在一起。他们还可以为您做笔记。

Read more about申请需求评估

从您附近了解您附近的痴呆症服务阿尔茨海默氏症社会在线目录.英国年龄also provide a range of services and local support.

加入在线论坛，例如Alzheimer’s Society Talking Point. Online forums are a good way to share your experiences of living with dementia and advice on how to continue living independently.

Read more about帮助和支持痴呆症患者.

How technology can help you at home

技术的进步意味着现在有越来越多的产品和服务来帮助患有痴呆症或其他长期疾病的人独立，安全地生活。这也称为辅助技术。

Telecare

远程保健系统有助于确保您的安全。它们包括设备，例如：

• portable alarms or fixed position alarms – when activated these make a high-pitched sound to alert someone
• movement sensors – to detect, for instance, when someone has fallen out of bed
• smoke and fire alarms
• telecare systems – sensors or detectors that automatically send a signal to a carer or monitoring centre by phone
• 药丸分配器 - 适当的间隔释放药物

如果您有需要评估，您的地方议会可能会提供远程保健系统。您可能必须支付这笔费用。

Read more aboutpersonal alarms, security systems (telecare) and keysafes.

Daily living aids

These include products that help with day-to-day tasks, such as:

• 时钟显示日期和日期
• 提示设备提示何时服药或预约警报
• telephones with big buttons – these can be pre-programmed with frequently used numbers
• music players and radios with easy-to-use controls

有几个网站出售日常生活辅助工具，例如Alzheimer’s Society online shop和生活变得容易.

智能手机和平板电脑

Many people with dementia find using a mobile phone or tablet helps. These devices often have a range of apps that can help people, such as an alarm clock, notes function and a reminder function.

There are also many apps specifically designed to help people with dementia – and their carers – including dedicated games, digital photobooks and reminiscence aids.

Voice-controlled virtual assistants can also help you stay independent. For example, they can remind you to take medicines and provide answers to questions about weather or train timetables.

有痴呆症时工作

If you've received a dementia diagnosis, you may be worried about how you'll cope at work. You should speak to your employer as soon as you feel ready.

In some jobs, such as the armed forces, you must tell your employer. If you're unsure, check your employment contract.

You can also get advice from the disability employment adviser at yourlocal Jobcentre Plus, your trade union or your localCitizens Advice service. If you decide to leave work, seek advice about your pensions and benefits.

如果您想继续工作，请与您的雇主讨论可以进行哪些调整以帮助您，例如：

• 改变工作时间
• 在不同时间安排会议
• changing to a different role that may be less demanding

Under the Equality Act 2010, your employer has to make "reasonable adjustments" in the workplace to help you do your job.

The Alzheimer's Society have more information about working and employment if you have dementia.

Driving

如果您被诊断出患有痴呆症，则在法律上必须inform the DVLA和your car insurance company promptly.

This doesn't necessarily mean you will have to stop driving immediately. Some people with dementia prefer to give up driving because they find it stressful, but others continue driving for some time as long as it's safe for them to do so

DVLA将要求医疗报告，并可能进行特殊的驾驶评估，以决定您是否可以继续开车。

Read the阿尔茨海默氏症社会关于驾驶和痴呆症的建议.

Planning ahead

您可能有很多年的时间独立于痴呆症。但是，尽管您仍然能够做出自己的决定，但要制定计划是一个好主意，以便可以尊重您对未来护理的愿望。

这些计划可以包括：

• choosing someone you trust, like a family member or friend, to act on your behalf to manage your affairs, both financial and medical – this is calledLasting Power of Attorney
• making an advance statement – this covers the care you'd like to receive in the later stages of dementia, including where you would like to be cared for
• making a will – if you haven't done so already

Read more aboutmanaging legal affairs when you have dementia.