Any advise

[GemGem95]

I’m currently looking after my Great Aunt who is 86. She’s been diagnosed with vascular dementia and usually lives with my grandad and nan but they go away every January for 10 weeks. We have had the doctors down before because she’s complaining of headache dizziness and almost blacking out, she had a blood test last week but have not yet had results. Today the same has happened and not sure whether this is normal or not with vascular dementia?

[Hidden]

Hi GemGem95

This may not be as a direct result of your great aunt’s dementia, but it is of concern and I’d recommend getting in touch with your great aunt’s surgery to ask for further advice.

I don’t know whether you are aware but there is a HealthUnlocked group called Care Community which exists specifically to help support and answer questions for those of us who care, or have cared for others in older age which you may care to check out. Very best wishes.

[GemGem95 in reply to Hidden]

She had a blood test Friday And my mum spoke to her doctor and he said that her bloods are fine it’s just because she literally does not move at all so when she suddenly gets up her blood pressure goes high a bit which makes her giddy he said she’s got to start moving. She’s so stubborn so how can I make her walk.

[Hidden in reply to GemGem95]

Hi GemGem95, I think you have your answer then. This is a common problem and is prevalent in older people (I'm one myself and also suffer from this periodically). It's called postural or orthostatic hypotension, and isn't really related to your great aunt's dementia. It's just important that, if she feels the 'blackness' coming on, she should stay still and hold on to furniture, walking frame etc., until it passes.