Dementia is an umbrella term of a cluster of progressive neurological diseases that results in cognitive functions such as memory decline (WHO 2012). Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2016) reported that dementia has become the second leading cause of death in Australia since 2013. The marked physical and cognitive functional declines over time often results in placing individuals with moderate to severe stage of dementia in the aged care facility with high level of care. Dementia associated behavioural symptoms, such as agitation and confusion, are the clinical manifestations throughout the trajectory of the disease, which impacts on residents’ quality of life and increases the stress of caring staff (Gitlin, Kales & Lyketsos 2012). …show more content…
2009; Hansen, Jørgensen & Ørtenblad 2006; Health, NCCfM 2007; Health, NIf & Excellence 2006) Activity I: Patting the Balloon Rational: Individuals with dementia are often positively response to the play-centered activities, such as balloon game, that are derived from childhood play (Beerens et al. 2017; Pulsford, Rushforth & Connor 2000). Patting the balloon creates sensory and motor stimulations, which could increase individuals’ social awareness and interaction (Pulsford, Rushforth & Connor …show more content…
2016). Literature can also stimulate and retain cognitive functioning (Woods et al. 2012). Equipment: A book Card with words Activities design: • Ask and assess residents’ reading capacity, residents with impaired reading capacity can still enjoy listening other’s reading • Start with a page or card that has few words • Poems learnt from schools may be preferred • Offer opportunities for chatting on a particular picture and topic • Try using the phrase, “tell me about…” • Give a compliment after a person’s reading (e.g “well done”) Special considerations: • Choose large front size for a person to see and read easily • Avoid materials with dense text • Avoid questions that are complicated Intended outcomes: Residents will enjoy the engagement and pleasure of shared reading and listening activities. They will be provided with appropriate cognitive stimulations by reading and listening to words at all stage of dementia. Individuals with impaired comprehension can still enjoy reading. Sources: (Longden et al. 2016; Woods et al.
Dementia – is the chain of signs and symptoms which effect the human brain. As a result of this changes in the brain occur which are irreversible. These changes lead to memory loss, difficulty in planning and learning, confusion and changes in behaviour.
Butler, R. (2008). The Carers of People with Dementia. BMJ: British Medical Journal , 336, 1260-1261.
Dementia is a disease which causes mental debility and affects one’s way of intelligent, attentiveness, recollection and problem-solving (NHS, 2013). As a result of dysfunction of brain cells in some parts of the brain it affects the thinking process then dementia occurs and it usually comes with age (Ibid). It is estimated that 560 000 people suffer from dementia in England and as a result the NHS and Social Care spend about 3.3billion (National Audit Offices)
care to the residents suffering from dementia. Banner et al (2009 as cited in Lee J.et al.2012)
Alzheimer is a dementia type of disease named after Dr. Alois alzheimer that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills,and eventually , the ability to do simple things, or recognize their family. The first case occurred in the 1906 when a woman died on a unusual mental illness. After she died Dr.Alois examined her brain , amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary. Alzheimer’s is in older people the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a loss of remembering ,thinking and reasoning skills, that intervenes with your daily life and activities. It is very common in people over sixty years of age. People younger than sixty years can also
While the average life expectancy of the world’s population has increased, the number of detected dementia cases has commensurately risen to astonishing levels. Along with improved discovery of this disorder, new causes and treatments have been found, from which many innovative techniques have been developed towards the prevention of future incidences and reduction of the effects of this condition; however, the quest for these solutions have raised more questions than it has answered. Why do some develop this disorder, while others do not? Can early detection be achieved to reverse the processes or limit its effects? Further specifics on these topics have been categorized into three main sections, which include:
People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of their belongings, keeping up with plans, remembering appointments or travel dates. Many dementias are progressive. This means that symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse with time. Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are diagnosed based on careful medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior related to each
Contrary to common belief, Dementia is not a disease, it is a term that encompasses a collection of symptoms. These symptoms are associated with numerous diseases that involve the impairment of cognitive functions (DoH, 2013).
While there is little difference between dementia and Alzheimer it is important to distinguish the two. Dementia is, “ a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life” (Alzheimer Association, 2014). While Alzheimer is, “is a ...
Dementia is an acquired clinical disorder that affects loss of brain cells, causing a gradual onset and the continued decline of higher cognitive functioning. This damage interferes with how parts of the brain cells communicate with one another. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior. Dementia is classified in two categories: reversible and irreversible. Reversible dementia can be the result of a medication reaction, metabolic disturbances, emotional distress, infections, and nutritional deficiencies. These, however, are treatable and should be identified early if suspected to avoid lasting side effects. Unlike degenerative (irreversible) dementia, it is common to any age group. Irreversible dementia is the broadened classification for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. These tend to only affect the older population, people over sixty-five. As the disease worsens, people have problems with short-term memory loss, like forgetting things they have said or done, even though they can often recall events that happen...
Serafini, Frank, and Cyndi Giorgis. Reading Aloud and Beyond: Fostering the Intellectual Life with Older Readers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2003. Print.
“…a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function. Dementia symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time, people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. People with dementia lose their abilities at different rates.”
Imagine attempting simple everyday tasks and struggling because of confusion or memory loss. Well unfortunately, this is what it is like for many people with dementia. The severity of dementia ranges from person to person, but is there anything that can help? Music therapy, for one, can actually be tremendously helpful for those with dementia in more ways than the average person might think.
Delirium, Depression, and Dementia are some of the most common psychological diagnoses in the elderly today. The three D’s are difficult to differentiate between in older adults because they overlap with each other and can all exist in the same patient at once. Delirium, Dementia, and Depression all affect the elderly’s quality of life and often increase the risks for one another (Downing, Caprio & Lyness, 2013). For the purpose of this paper I will be focusing primarily on the diagnosis of Dementia, the prevention, and nursing measures associated with it, but first I would like to differentiate between Delirium and Depression because Dementia is often associated with the two in the older adult population.
Philadelphia, USA: Churchill Livingstone. Kerr, D. (2007). The 'Standard'. Understanding Learning Disability and Dementia: Developing Effective Interventions (1st ed.). London, UK: Jessica Kingsley.