– I find it terrifying. I imagine a lot of people will be left alone in their own shit. It’s sad, says Sylvia Kivle. She is married to Ragnar, who you may remember from the news series about the Dementia Choir. In the summer of 2021, she noticed that something was wrong with her husband. The former policeman stuttered a lot. He couldn’t find the words. Was difficult to understand. – I lost a lot of my voice. Was far away, says Ragnar. At the end of the year, he received the diagnosis. Alzheimer’s. Happy to train Ragnar has gradually got his voice back. He likes to talk and is open about his illness. Ever since Ragnar was small and grew up as a missionary child in Japan, he has enjoyed training. Five days a week, he spends several hours at a training center at Holmlia in Oslo. – Training is important. Even if you get old, it is possible to train. To be a happy man. But in everyday life, Ragnar needs help with most things. The disease develops gradually from week to week. – What was fine yesterday may not be fine today, says Sylvia. He doesn’t always understand what his wife says and means, doesn’t understand text messages on the phone and he struggles with his memory. Then Ragnar can say; I’m stupid. – No, it’s not you who is stupid. It is the disease that does it, says Sylvia. Symptoms of dementia: Significant forgetfulness: Dementia can cause forgetfulness to become noticeable and affect the ability to function in everyday life, especially for new events. Problems with carrying out tasks: Routines in everyday life disappear, and the ability to solve problems is reduced. Tasks and tools that used to be simple and familiar are now difficult to handle. Language problems: Forgets simple words or uses the wrong words, making sentences difficult to understand. Disorientation: Difficulty keeping track of which day, month or season it is. May have difficulty knowing whether it is morning or evening and may turn the clock around. Impaired judgement: May have problems dressing for the weather and season. It can become difficult to make purchases and manage finances. Difficulties with abstract thinking: It can be difficult to understand numbers and symbols, such as traffic signs. It can also be difficult to understand what kind of relationship you have with other people. Change in behaviour: Can change behavior, either suddenly or over a long period of time. The person may experience rapid mood swings, without an obvious cause. Flatter mood rent: may lose interest in what was previously important. They can become uninitiative and restless, and they can have trouble filling their time with something meaningful. Misplacing objects: May put objects in the wrong places, such as irons in the fridge or cups in the bathroom cupboard. Source: Helsenorge Municipalities not equipped Ragnar is one of well over 100,000 people with dementia in this country. It is expected that the number will more than double by 2050. On behalf of the National Association for Public Health, Sentio Research has investigated whether the country’s municipalities are prepared. 317 municipalities have responded. Half of the municipalities therefore themselves believe that they are not equipped to meet this development. Head of department Tone Paulson Torgersen at the National Association for Public Health. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news – We at the National Association for Public Health are very concerned about these figures that come out here, says head of department Tone Paulsson Torgersen. – If we don’t start and build capacity in the meeting with this group now, then we have a huge problem. Relatives must do more In the survey, nine out of ten municipalities also answer that they depend on more effort than today from relatives in order to provide good services to residents with dementia. – I can only say that right away. Nothing will come of it. She talks about relatives who are already exhausted today. Among other things, because they struggle to find things out. She believes this can be solved if the municipality coordinates the service in collaboration with the relatives. – Then the relatives may be able to free up time to be the loved one, close as they themselves want, and which is best for people with dementia. The consequence is more sick calls. Once a week, Sylvia volunteers at the church where they live, while Ragnar is training. She bakes waffles and organizes get-togethers for the elderly. Since she has a husband who demands quite a lot at home, she thinks it’s nice to have some time all to herself. – That’s gold, says Sylvia and laughs. Sylvia says that dementia rules their lives. – I live with it 24/7. If in the future municipalities are to rely on more effort from relatives, she is primarily thinking of people with dementia who live alone. – Not everyone has a relative who can look after them. Sylvia fears that not everyone has relatives who can take care of them. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news If it is expected that, for example, daughters, sons or children-in-law will stand up, she believes the consequence will be many sick calls. – How can you be 100 per cent employed, perhaps have children, and then take care of someone in the family who is demented, asks Sylvia. – Expect it to shape the election campaign The National Association for Public Health believes that the politicians in each individual municipality are responsible for the situation. But the subject manager also believes that the national politicians must be on the field. – We expect this to shape the election campaign next year, says subject manager Tone Paulsson Torgersen. According to the municipalities’ interest organisation, KS, a large majority of all the country’s municipalities have a plan for an age-friendly society. KS believes it is important that the municipalities find good housing solutions and cooperate well with relatives, the local community and volunteers. Photo: Photographer Johnny Syversen / Photographer Johnny Syversen – I think the figures here show both recognition of the challenge picture, but also which factors will be absolutely necessary to meet the challenges in the coming years, says Helge Eide, acting managing director of KS, the municipalities’ interest organisation. He admits that it is of course always a question of money. But he emphasizes: – The most important thing is to recognize that the number of health workers, who are employed to help, cannot grow into the sky, because those people do not exist. The Ministry of Health will not comment on the results of the survey because they have not seen it. – On a general basis, we know that municipalities work actively to offer good health and care services to their residents, including to people with dementia and their relatives, says State Secretary Ellen Rønning-Arnesen. Still want to live together After 50 years of marriage, Sylvia hopes that she and Ragnar can still live together for many years without needing help. But if Ragnar gets so ill that she can’t stand it alone, she hopes that there are enough care places so they don’t have to wait in line. Ragnar has enjoyed being part of the Dementia Choir. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad/Nordisk Banijay – Then I hope there is some help out there, so that I don’t perish. What is your greatest wish for the future, Ragnar? – That Sylvia and I can live together. That we still love each other. That is the most important thing. She puts her hand on his arm. He turns his face towards her. – That’s Sylvia. Do you need someone to talk to? Contact the Dementia Line on telephone: 23 12 00 40. Here you can talk to experienced nurses. The dementia line is open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 15.00. Published 16.09.2024, at 06.00
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Many municipalities are not equipped to meet the sharp increase in dementia patients that is coming – Greater Oslo
