The Institution of Old People With Dementia

In 19th century Britain, old people with dementia were often admitted to asylums or workhouses. The institutions were not intended for them and they could often be agitated or sick.

The ambivalence towards this population segment is in the roots of the welfare state. It was not until the late twentieth century that dementia became a public health issue.

Medical Alarms Dementia is a neurological disease that causes a loss of cognitive function and impairment of autonomy. Some of the symptoms of dementia can be controlled outside of the hospital, but other symptoms are not. If you are planning on taking care of a person with dementia, you may want to learn how to provide appropriate care and support.

The institution of people with dementia was an early attempt to separate them from the rest of society. During this time, dementia was often viewed as a hopeless and incurable disease, with no cure.

By the end of the nineteenth century, the boundaries between normal aging and pathological senile dementia were unclear. Alzheimer's disease was researched in Germany. Psychiatrists like Alois Alzheimer wanted to make dementia a disease with a clear pathological basis.

The idea of the apocalyptic demography of a growing number of elderly people with dementia caused advocates of biomedical research to use creative approaches to improve care. This broader reframing of the disease increased awareness, and raised funding for research. But it also increased stigma, as people with dementia were viewed as hopelessly unmanageable.