Dementia is a neurological disease that can be caused by damage to brain cells like head injury, brain tumor, stroke, and more. Dementia is often characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairments. This disease impacts six to ten percent of the U.S. population ages 65 and older. Dementia is a diverse term that does not describe one specific disorder, but actually describes a number of disorders that show the same general characteristics of memory loss and other emotional and cognitive inabilities (Anda, Chapman, Moore, Strine, & Williams, 2006). Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and effects up to eighty percent of dementia cases. Other common forms of dementia include Lewy Bodies, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, and others …show more content…
Some patients take a year to transition from the diagnosis of dementia to another form of the disease like Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a disease that can be characterized by seven stages of transition. Stage one is when the individual has no memory loss, and the brain functions normally. The second stage includes a very mild decline in memory loss. The person that has dementia may notice this memory loss, but it goes relatively undetected by friends and family members. The memory loss in the third stage is mild. An individual in the third stage may have trouble completing complicated tasks and remembering names. In stage four, there is a moderate decline in memory loss. Complex activities become increasingly difficult to complete along with daily tasks like shopping and paying bills. The individual may experience mood swings and become withdrawn. Stage five marks the period of rapid decline in memory loss. The patients address and other memories may be forgotten. Individuals in stage five may still be independent but may require help making decisions. In stage six, there is a severe decline in memory. Also, some personality changes take place and mood …show more content…
There are many roles people have to play in Dementia Care. Some of these people include nurses, social workers, psychologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and a pharmacist just to name a few. Pharmacists provide different types of medication to dementia patients that are able to reduce or even stop the progression of memory loss. Medication also has the ability to stabilize mood swings so the patient is able to live life more regularly. Along with pharmaceutical treatment, there are other approaches and programs that might help treat the symptoms of dementia. Some of these programs include, cognitive rehabilitation, activity engagement, memory boards, and cognitive behavioral therapy to address anxiety (Earland & Gitlin, 2010). Also, when a patient with dementia needs more assistance with daily living, placing the patient in a nursing home where more care can be provided is an effective solution (Lopez & Rose, 2012). There are numerous treatment options and choosing the right one for a loved one may be a
Dementia is a long-term condition that normally affects people aged 65 and over, younger people can be affected. Having dementia can cause loss of key functions to the brain, such as; loss of memory; confusion; speech and language problems; loss of ability to make judgements; loss of concentration; difficulty in processing information; changes in behaviour and personality. These all lead to a person not been able to function properly. The person’s ability to function deteriorates over a period of time and is usually at least 6 months before positive diagnosis of dementia can be made. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases such as Alzheimer’s which is the most common of dementia, vascular which is a series of mini strokes,
Dementia is a difficult disease to understand and handle. A major problem involving these patients are caregivers that are not properly trained and educated to care for people with the disease resulting in issues such as neglect and abuse.
Although Alzheimer’s disease appears to be the most common cause of dementia, “more than 50 conditions are associated with dementia, including degenerative ...
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
Alzheimer’s disease was first postulated by the Bavarian psychiatrist by the name of Alois Alzheimer in 1906, however very little was known about the illness (Selkoe). Today, it is well documented that Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of the mental disorder known as dementia. Furthermore, dementia affects an estimated 25 million people in the world (Dalvi). The National Institute of Aging, under the purview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines Alzheimer’s disease as “an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.” Alzheimer’s disease, like most diseases, has levels of severity and get worse of the course of time. In early or “mild” stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the person might start exhibiting issues that could include “wandering and getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking...
Alzheimer’s is a disease that many people have heard of, but few really know much about. Imagine not being able to remember your loved ones and friends or even how to do simple tasks like dressing yourself and brushing your hair. Now imagine having to dress your mother, who rarely remembers you anymore. This is the reality of life for millions of older people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and the families that care for them. Alzheimer’s causes cognitive function to decrease gradually overtime. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia - affecting around 5 million Americans (alz.org). It is the most fatal disease affecting older people and needs to be taken seriously.
Dementia is the progressive deterioration and impairment of memory, reasoning, and other cognitive functions occurring as the result of a disease or condition. Dementia can affect the person’s ability to carry out daily activities. For example, the person may forget where they live or they might think they have already done their activities but never did. Dementia can also cause the elderly to become incontinent and can’t control their urinary system. Many people get confused that dementia is a disease. Dementia is not a disease. However, it can lead to a disease or condition. Dementia is more common in the elderly population. It’s normal for people to forget things, but to a certain extent it becomes a critical issue. Depression also plays a role in the affects of dementia. Studies have been made to believe that the biological mechanisms for depression relating to dementia is, “interactions with vascular diseases, changes in glucocorticoid steroid levels that can result in hippocampal atrophy, accumulation of amyloid-[beta] plaques, inflammatory processes, and lack of nerve growth factors” (Heser et al., 2013). Dementia is caused because of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. This can also be known as Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia is the leading cause for Alzheimer’s Disease in the elderly. For all dementia cases, 60 to 80 percent of people with dementia will have Alzheimer’s Disease. The disease has 3 different stages, the early stage, the middle stage, and the late stage. Each of those stages has a variety of symptoms that affects the memory impairment of the person (Wieregna, Bondi, 2011). Also relating to dementia is Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington Disease. These diseases can result in impairment, which can cause challeng...
During the growing process people learn all the skills and when dementia takes over the body you have a decrease in functioning. Dementia takes over the body on a progression that is extended and gradually takes over their body. Dementia behavior is a disease that will never have a treatment for (Practice Guideline, 2007). Dementia also has common issues of sexual behavior that people deal with but this has a treatment in which they would take on behavioral treatments in which they would control the urge to act out. The behavioral treatments will allow the patients to undergo a treatment that will give support for the patient and the family (Fisher & Carstensen, 1990; Mintzer et al., 1997; Teri et al., 1997). Treatments of drugs are not supported by clinician due to bad symptoms (Sultzer et al., 2008). It is said that most patients that have dementia that are treated with such anti-psychotics occur greater issues of aggression and mental health. Deaths are more triggered when taken meds. Patients with dementia usually loss all functioning skills once that is lost there is no medications or treatments that will be able to help them gain control or gain back
(Caregiver) The role of a caregiver is vitally important to those that are in need. It requires constant, special care that is specific to those that need it. With dementia, the care giver need to make a proper and trusting relationship with the client. Dementia may cause the client to be fully dependent to the caregiver. (Lindolpho, M., Oliveira, J., Sá, S., Brum, A. K., Valente, G., & Cruz, T, 2014) This special care can include communication, handling troubling behavior, wandering, incontinence, agitation, paranoia, sleeplessness, and bathing. Eating, nutrition, and medication are vitally important to those with Dementia. Those three things can ultimately slow down the progression of Dementia but there is no cure. The consequences of poor nutrition are many, including weight loss, irritability, sleeplessness, bladder or bowel problems and disorientation. (Caregiver 's Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors, 2016) Caregivers of persons with dementia are at a negative triad of burden, depression, and grief. (Strong, J. V., & Mast, B. T, 2013) The burden comes from the complete care needed for these clients or family members. Greif has been known to cause depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, increased risk of physical illness, sleep disturbances, difficulty with daily living, relationships or work activities, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol or substance
Dementia is classified in three stages. In each stage there are various things caregivers and family members can do to improve the life of their demented loved one. Throughout all three stages of dementia it is important for family members to keep in touch with their loved one. This will make the demented patient feel a sense of belonging and importance. Patients may also benefit from stories, pictures, trinkets, and documents that remind them of the
Dementia is a term to describe a variety of symptoms of a large group of illnesses or neurodegenerative diseases that cause a progressive decline in a person’s mental functioning. Dementia can cause a serious loss of mental capacity, including memory loss, a decline in intellectual ability, poor judgement, poor social skills and abnormal emotional reactions. Although it may be more common with older people this is not a normal part of the ageing process and many people do not develop this disease (Australian institute of health and well-being, 2013).
A medical assistant can explain how the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s differ from the signs and symptoms of dementia by explaining how each medical condition works to the patient and/or their caretaker. A medical assistant can talk about how dementia is a syndrome, not a disease like Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a group of symptoms that affects mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease of the brain that slowly causes impairment in memory and cognitive function. Both medical conditions are very similar, that is why many people think that they are the same exact things but they are a little different from each other.
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.
... and duration varies from person to person. It depends on multiple factors, including the age of diagnosis and other medical conditions. The signs and symptoms start with cognitive disturbance as all other forms of dementia begin. We should refrain from being prejudiced and judgmental because of not taking the time to truly understand this disorder and how it may affect one’s life. Education and patience are the best ways to tackle this issue. In this paper, relevant topics involving dementia were discussed. Part one covered the pathology and staging of dementia. Part two explained the most common types of dementia that many people are diagnosed with. Part three summarized the treatment methods used to manage the disorder. We should apply a professional, respectful, and empathic approach while maintaining specific culture traditions to achieve a successful outcome.
Alzheimer’s Disease is formed in the brain but yet, has no known cure or treatment. Alzheimer’s Disease has many symptoms. Memory is the biggest symptom along with mood swings and having a hard time with keeping a conversation. A patient with Alzheimer’s goes through 7 stages; The first stage, which is misplacing things or forgetting what something is used for, second stage, they start losing more of their memory and they begin to forget where they are or what they are doing, the third, fourth and fifth begin to mentally decline and need someone to take care of them and worsen over time.The sixth stage they begin to have an even more difficult time going to the bathroom and cleaning themselves or using electronic devices such as phones or televisions. The final stage, at which the long goodbye comes to an end, they now are mentally and physically gone. Some doctors prescribe medication to the patients to help deal with some of the symptoms.