Dementia Training - Module 1 - Part 7 - Daily Tasks and Dementia

[Virtual Presenter] This is Part 7 of Module 1. Daily Tasks and how dementia affects them. Dementia profoundly impacts even the most fundamental daily activities. Tasks that many of us take for granted, like cooking, dressing, and making a drink, can suddenly feel insurmountable for those living with this condition. It’s heartbreaking to witness how these once-simple actions can lead to frustration and, over time, make independent living feel impossible. Both individuals with dementia and their caregivers often find themselves feeling overwhelmed and yearning for understanding. What feels almost automatic today can transform into a real challenge tomorrow, creating a sense of unpredictability that defines life with dementia. Consider the simple act of making a cup of coffee. It seems so straightforward, something you could do with your eyes closed (though that’s not advisable!). Yet, this everyday task requires memory, sequencing, attention, and problem-solving skills, abilities that slowly diminish with dementia. To better understand these challenges, let us follow Harold’s story: “The Yellow Cup.” Afterwards, we’ll take a closer look at the step-by-step process of making coffee for someone living with dementia, exploring how minor adjustments in support can truly make a meaningful difference in their lives..

[Audio] The Yellow Cup Harold stood in the kitchen, bathed in the soft morning light that filtered through the lace curtains, feeling a quiet sense of disorientation. The kettle hummed quietly, not yet boiling, mirroring the fog in his mind. Though he didn't need it, the coffee sat ready‑made in the pot, thanks to his loving wife earlier that morning, and he felt a subtle ache of forgetfulness that made the familiar room feel strangely unfamiliar. He rubbed his hands together, a ritual he'd done for years, and looked around for his yellow cup. The one June had given him on their anniversary. His favourite. Bright. Cheerful. Easy to spot. It sat on the counter, right where it always did. But Harold wasn't having a good day, and today even the familiar felt foreign. Instead of reaching for the cup, he picked up the coffee pot. The milk bottle was already in his other hand. He frowned, hesitated, then poured the milk into the pot. It didn't feel right, but the steps were slippery in his mind, like trying to hold water in his hands. The kettle clicked off. Steam curled into the air. Harold turned, searching for the sugar. It was right in front of him, in its usual ceramic pot with the little blue flowers. But it might as well have been invisible. He opened a cupboard. Then another. His brow furrowed, lips pressed tight. "Where's that blasted sugar?" he muttered. Minutes passed. The coffee, now mixed with milk, cooled in the pot. But Harold didn't give up. He never did. He spotted the yellow cup again, and this time something clicked. He poured the coffee into it. "No need to add milk now," he thought, with a slight smile, seeing the funny side of what he'd done. The sugar pot finally caught his eye. He spooned in one heap. Then another. Stirred slowly, carefully, as if the act itself grounded him. He took a sip. It wasn't perfect. A little too sweet. But it was his. Made by his own hands. Harold sat at the kitchen table, the yellow cup warm between his palms. Outside, the birds sang. Inside, he smiled, a quiet moment of peace, of independence, of being himself. What June didn't see, but would have understood, was that this small victory mattered. Not because the coffee was made "right," but because Harold had found his way through the confusion and reclaimed a moment of dignity..

[Audio] Can you imagine being in Harold's position? It must have been incredibly frustrating for him to struggle with something as simple as making a cup of coffee. It's hard to fathom what was happening in Harold's mind that made this everyday task so challenging. It's a reminder of how even the simplest things can feel overwhelming at times. Let's examine his story together to understand what his brain was experiencing. Harold's kitchen, once a place of warmth and familiarity, felt unsettlingly foreign to him today. His cherished yellow cup, a reminder of routine and comfort, sat out in the open, yet he couldn't seem to acknowledge its presence. This poignant moment captures the early signs of his struggle with recognition and spatial awareness, as though the mental map that once guided him was beginning to blur at the edges, leaving him feeling lost in his own home. When Harold reached for the coffee pot and the milk, his actions became a bit confused. Instead of pouring the milk into his cup as he intended, he accidentally poured it into the pot. This wasn't simply a slip of the mind; it reflected a deeper struggle with his procedural memory and executive function. While the steps were still somewhere in his mind, the connections that helped him navigate these tasks had become frayed, much like neurons that were once closely linked and are now drifting apart. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when our familiar routines become challenging, and it's essential to recognise that such moments can happen to anyone. The sugar pot, typically resting in its familiar place, felt invisible to Harold in that moment. As he rummaged through the cupboards, it wasn't a matter of poor eyesight; instead, his ability to perceive and recognise objects had become compromised. The sugar pot was there, yet Harold's mind was grappling with the challenge of locating, identifying, and responding to it. It was heart-wrenching to see how the neural pathways that once glowed with clarity now struggled to light up, flickering uncertainly. Amid the many challenges he faced, Harold showed remarkable perseverance. When he found the yellow cup once more, it felt like a pivotal moment, a flicker of clarity cutting through the dense fog of dementia. His smile was more than just a response to the coffee; it symbolised a brief but meaningful reclaiming of control in a world that often feels disorienting. It was a touching reminder that even in times of struggle, our sense of identity and capability can still shine through, even when expressing these feelings becomes a challenge. The coffee was a bit too sweet, and the process often felt disjointed, but Harold managed to find success in it all. For him, this small victory was a profound moment, a quiet triumph against the invisible forces that were reshaping his mind. It's remarkable how even in the midst of struggles, he found a way to push through. Making a cup of coffee engages many parts of the brain. Understanding how dementia affects these areas can help carers feel more hopeful and empowered. To better understand this condition and its effects, in Part 8, let's take a closer look at the various brain areas involved. By doing so, we can gain insight into the experiences of those living with dementia and the challenges they face..