Research shows that when you reach 70 years or older, your chances of contracting Dementia increase significantly.
DEMENTIA:- a disease of the brain that changes a person’s memory, behavior, and ability to care for oneself.
SYMPTOMS:-
- Decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning.
- Changes in personality, mood and behavior.
- Difficulties in the ability to communicate, to recognize people and places to engage in activities.
- Difficulties with once familiar activities.
- Impaired judgement.
- Problems with spatial temperal orientation.
ALZHEIMER IS COMMON TYPE OF DEMENTIA — FIRST IDENTIFIED 100 YEARS AGO.
Changes in short term memory are Noticeable:-
- Elderly – 65 years by 85 years. 50% getting it.
- Females greater risk than males.
- Genetics.
OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA:-
Lewy body Dementia — is caused when abnormal protein deposits are left in the brain symptoms include hallucinations and memory loss.
STAGES OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:-
- Early Stage = Last 2-4 years.
- Characterics = Forgetfulness, Increasing Difficulty with Problem-Solving, and Withdrawing from Activities.
- Forget Experiences like names.
CONDITIONING OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:-
- Response to Discomfort.
- Unmet Need.
- Increasing Confusion.
- Difficulty Communicating
- Loss of Independence.
- Poor Insight/Judgment.
Reducing Behavioral Disturbance is Triggers:-
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Acute Illness
- Sensory Deficits
- Hallcuinations/Delusions
Behaviors may be Psychomotor (Pacing, Wandering, Crying out)
Verbal — Belligerence, Restlessness, Nastiness, and Repetitiveness.
Physical — Combativeness, Inappropriate Touching.
Fronts — Temporal Dementia
- Personality/Behavioral Changes
- Loss of Language function
- Vascular – Multi-Infaret Dementia
- Second Mostly – Reduced blood flow.
TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA:-
Cognitive:-
Rx. Aricept
Rx. Exelon
Rx. Razadyne
Side Effects:-
- Gastro-intestinal
- Minimized by giving in morning with food.
- Vivid dreams
- Leg cramps
Rx. Namenda — for moderate dementia.
Mood – Selective Serotonin Relptake Inhibitors (SSRIS)
Rx. Tricylics/Rx. Elavil and benzaodiazepines such as Lorzapam/Valium should be avoided because of increased confusion and dizziness and increased risk of falls with injury.
PHILOSOPHY OF DEMENTIA CARE:-
- People are unique and bring to the caregiving situation.
- Essence of good dementia is maintenance and enhancement of personhood. Equal respect.
- The people with best knowledge are skilled and insightful caregivers.
- New culture and old culture.
DISEASE OF CNS SYSTEM:-
- Form of disability
- Not much we can do. We can do through human earning insight and skill.
CARING FOR CARER:-
- People’s attitudes
- Personal biases
- Prejudices
- Streotypes
- Diversity — race, enthicity, nationality, religion and sexual/orientation.
ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY MEMBERS:-
- Denial
- Over Involvement
- Anger
COPING STRATGIES:-
- Learn Alzheimer’s disease.
- Develop realistic expectations about future.
- Accept past mistakes. Learn from them and go on.
- Become more aware of your mental and physical reactions to stress.
- Accept and enjoy success. Accept they are temporary.
- Accept your own feelings of frustration or anger at person.
Realize taking out these feelings with Alzheimer’s is not appropriate.
COMMUNICATION WITH DEMENTIA TYPE:-
- Introduce yourself.
- Valid responses/feelings verbally
- Use short simple sentences.
- Ask YES/NO questions.
- Allow time for answer.
- Try to guess.
Verbal techniques — used to calm and reason person with Dementia.
COMMON DIFFICULT BEHAVIOR:-
- Fighting
- Wandering/Rummaging
- Physical Restlessness
- Eating problems
- Sleep disturbances
- Disruptive yelling/moaning
- Problematic sexual behavior and disrobing.
