People with Alzheimer’s disease have impaired abilities due to the destruction of nerve cells in the brain (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2011). Alzheimer’s disease is a “degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood, that leads in advanced cases to a profound decline in cognitive and physical functioning” (Merium-Webster dictionary). Alzheimer’s typically occurs in the geriatric population and affects an estimated one in eight people over the age of sixty-four (Arbesman & Lieberman, 2011). Occupational therapy practitioners can help individuals who are diagnosed with this disease through many avenues. Some of the goals of occupational therapy for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are to create, restore, maintain, modify and prevent further deterioration of occupational performance (Schaber, 2010).
The occupational therapy (OT) practitioner strives to address the specific needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the challenges that their caregivers face using evidence-based practices (EBP) (Arbesman & Lieberman, 2011). The practitioner identifies occupational deficits, sets goals, and helps their patients and caregivers carry out compensatory and envrionmental adaptations (Letts, et al., 2011). For example, a client with AD will most likely have a decrease in short term memory and, therefore, resulting communication difficulties as their disease progresses. Tasks that would have been easy in the past, such as making telephone calls, become a frustrating chore. In six different case studies by Topo, Jylha, and Laine, AD clients showed an improvement ...
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... J., Moros, K., O'Neill, C., O'Tool, C., & McGrath, C. (2011). Using occupations to improve quality of life, health and wellness, and client and caregiver satisfaction for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 497-504.
Letts, L., Minezes, J., Edwards, M., Berenyi, J., Moros, K., & O'Neill, C. O. (2011). Effectiveness of interventions designed to modify and maintain perceptual abilities in people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 505-513.
Ridge, E., & Robnett, R. (2009, May 11). In their own words: the emotional experience of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. OT Practice. pp. 18-21.
Schaber, P. (2010). Occupational therapy practice guidlines for adults with alzheimer's disease and related disorders. American occuational therapy association, 198.
Gillick, Muriel R. (1998). Tangled minds: understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. New York: Penguin Group.
...person, due to the confusion that comes with the disease. It is hard to live with, as documented by many, however, if people are prepared, they will not struggle as much as they would if they hadn’t taken these precautions. These tactics are extremely important, and Alanna Shaikh makes this clear through her Ted Talk. Many people can learn and benefit from these ideas, making it a very useful presentation. Alzheimers is a controlling disease, but by preparing for it, it can be defined.
STEEMAN, E., DE CASTERLÉ, B. D., GODDERIS, J. & GRYPDONCK, M. 2006. Living with early-stage dementia: a review of qualitative studies. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 54, 722-738.
Dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain which impact on a person’s functioning, ranging from thinking to behaviour and the ability to perform ordinary task and there are different type of dementia with the most common types being Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease (Keast, 2015). In 2009, nearly two-thirds (62%) of people identified as having dementia or Alzheimer 's disease were living in a health establishment such as a nursing home, an aged care hostel, or the cared component of a retirement village (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). People with dementia experience problems with communicative, cognitive and emotive tasks.
I worked with Dementia and Alzheimer patients as a Certified Nursing Assistant for almost three years. Working with the elderly has been one of my greatest achievements. I assisted my residents with bathing, grooming and making them feel comfortable. I was able to create a favorable environment for my residents while working with them. I had the opportunity to see patients go from early stage to their last stage of dementia. This gave me an opportunity to want to do more for people who are in need of my care. From my experience, I learnt that nursing is not just a job; it’s a responsibility and a calling, and it requires that you derive joy in what you are doing even in the toughest moment of caring for your
Additionally to the facts about Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease is not only one process; there are three stages of Alzheimer’s disease: mild, moderate and severe. In the mild stage, sufferers usually experience: short term memory loss, have small moods changes, get lost and slowly lose the ability to do tasks. Also, changes in the brain may begin almost 2...
Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is a disease that afflicts more than 4 million older citizens in the US. Alzheimer's is a degenerative neurological disorder that leads to impairments in memory, thinking and reasoning. AD is the most common cause of dementia in older people, and mainly affects people 65 and over. Within the last few years, there have been drugs that can temporarily treat the patients, but it remains a form of dementia that is irreversible. The disease is very hard on both the person who receives the diagnosis and on his or her family and friends. Aside from medical help, those affected by the diagnosis may want to consider counseling and support groups to help them cope.
It is inevitable that eventually each of us will grow old and begin to face more and more health problems as our age rises. Elderly people are challenged by many illnesses and diseases that unfortunately, are incurable. One disease that becomes more common as people age is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s a common cause and a form of dementia and can severely damage a patient’s cognitive functions and can ultimately cause death. Living with Alzheimer’s disease can be saddening for both the sufferer and the family. Family and friends will find it very hard to cope when a loved one begins slipping away and losing memory of who they are.
One of the most common problems in elders is dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association describes dementia as a range of symptoms rather than just one single specific disease. The symptoms of dementia range from memory loss as well as a decline in thinking skills to severe symptoms that lead to the decline of that person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (What
Slight Reminder of Credentials – In taking care of my mom, who was diagnosed with AD. I have learned first-hand that caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can be very stressful.
Person Directed Dementia Care Assessment Tool (2006). The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Retrieved [18th April 2011] from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aging/Genage/Pubs/pde0084.pdf
A myth about Alzheimer disease says that nothing can be done about the disease. This is not true. Much can be done to assist the person with Alzheimer’s disease to maintain the highest possible level of functioning as long as possible and in providing the highest quality of life.
Imagine attempting simple everyday tasks and not being able to because of confusion or memory loss. Well, this is what it is like for some 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 one.
Loss of memory, forgetfulness, personal change, even death, are common related disorders caused by a disease called Dementia or better known to most people as Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in persons 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is, named for the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, who first recognized the disease in 1907; Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a progressive deterioration of mental functioning. Nursing plays a major role in the care for patients who have Alzheimer’s disease during the three stages of the disease. The majority of Alzheimer’s patients are cared for at home by nursing caregivers or in a nursing home facility.
As a restorative aide, I lead a group of twenty-five to thirty clients through therapeutic activities that work on their gross motor, cognitive, fine motor, sensory, social, and behavior skills. I also carry out individual therapy sessions assigned by occupational therapists, and document individual progress notes. I work as an internal case manager for the clients, and I assist with the evaluation of each client according to his or her backgrounds, activity interests, abilities, and physical limitations to help develop a meaningful therapeutic activity for each person. This job has allowed me to use my creativity and design new fun activities every session to keep clients motivated. I work with clients who have traumatic brain injuries, dementia, and other cognitive and physical disabilities. I’ve developed interpersonal skills and learned the importance of reassurance, redirection, and patience with clients who may become easily confused and anxious. This job has allowed me to build trusting relationships with clients, and further confirmed my passion to become an occupational