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Effects of dementia on individuals
Dementia and its effects
Dementia and its effects
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The Impact on Caring for Clients with Dementia Caring for those that are ill are highly important jobs in the world today. Caring for clients or family that are sick contains special tasks that may be hard for others to handle. Caring for those with Dementia will cause one to be very oriented in the care plan for that client. Those that are caregivers need to be fully committed to the care that they give.
Dementia is a disease that contains a group of symptoms that contain loss of memory, judgment, language, complex motor skills, and other intellectual function-caused by the permanent damage or death of the brain 's nerve cells, or neurons. This disease is centered around memory impairment. (Goren, A., Montgomery, W., Kahle-Wrobleski, K.,
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(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 …show more content…
Emotions can be very high and very low during these times of progression through Dementia. Emotions can be dangerous to those that cannot handle those highs and lows. The emotional symptoms of stressors are becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody, feeling overwhelmed, lonely, worthless, and depressed, and avoiding others. (Stress symptoms, 2016) These symptoms are not healthy while caring for clients with Dementia. The symptoms can cause more severe symptoms if ignored or untreated. Some caregivers may use denial or avoiding to push the emotions away. (Alzheimer 's Foundation of America - What is Dementia, 2016) Depression is commonly seen in caregivers of Dementia clients. Depression is able to break the spirit of coping with the anxiety and stress that comes from caregiving. There is a link between that greater levels of caregiver burden and depression. Depression will present before death, if death occurs in the client. (Strong, J. V., & Mast, B. T, 2013)
The behavioral impact can be caused by the change in mental health in the caregiver. The caregiver can have symptoms of anxiety and stress that are related to the care of the client with Dementia. The signs and symptoms of stress and anxiety affecting the caregiver’s behavior are changed in eating habits, procrastinating, increased use of substances, and exhibiting nervous behaviors. (Stress symptoms,
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
Informal supports, such as aid for housekeeping and running errands, are crucial to maintaining the lifestyle of individuals with Alzheimer’s in the community; however, the disease’s erosion of physical, cognitive, and communicative abilities often creates tremendous strain for family caregivers. Individuals and family caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s often experience increasing social isolation as the disease’s progression undermines both mobility and the capacity for meaningful and appropriate engagement with the community (Banerjee et al., 2003). A number of studies have documented the physical and mental health costs borne by unsupported caregivers, and the link between caregiver stress and the institutionalization of their ill family members (Andren & Elmstahl, 2005; Banerjee et al., 2003). Taken together, the stress and isolation of dealing with Alzheimer’s disease undermine the health and quality of life of everyone involved, eventually precipitating institutionalization.
However, this type of care brings a lot of unconditioned difficulties due to the constant care they have to provide the elderly people with dementia. In a recent study it was discovered that caregivers experience stress differently given the circumstance this was shown by analysis of 234 people with dementia (Robertson, Zarit, Duncan, Rovine, & Femia, 2007). The findings were that caregivers in intense and distressed groups experienced higher behaviora...
Dementia has caused challenges and heartache for many families I have met. A loved one who no longer recognizes you could be difficult to cope with. I have had clients who do not know their own children and are unaware of their surroundings. Even though they have lived in the same home for over 30 years; it is now a strange new place to explore. Closets, bedrooms, and garages that were once frequented are now entered with caution and wonder. Everyday items are puzzles just waiting to be solved. As the disease progresses the harder it is to grasp the present. The past, like an old friend, beckons and comes to life bringing former friends and relatives of long ago, to the surface. Stories of days gone by are repeated and relived over and over. Constantly searching while longing to understand what is happening. Not being able to piece together the answers is frustrating. With frustration comes irritability and sleeplessness turning days into nights and nights into days. Everyday tasks became impossible, confusing, and troublesome. Dementia sometimes goes for years undetected; it is one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose. Because Dementia is an incurable disease that progresses with time we need to be diligent in finding a cure to prevent more victims.
Leggett, A., Zarit, S., Taylor, A., & Galvin, J. (2010). Stress and burden among caregivers of patients with lewy body dementia. The Gerontologist, 51(1), 76-85.
In the article "Facilitating and Supporting family Relationships in Dementia," Aysha Mendes writes that individuals who suffer from dementia tend to feel abandoned and lonely because their loved ones don't know how to interact with them after they have been diagnosed with this illness. For this reason Aysha emphasizes the importance of nursing facilities to make these patients feel loved and important, as well as teaching families how to deal with this situation.
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease which hits close to home for many families including my own. My grandmother was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 64. After battling with Alzheimer’s for over 15 years and watching her mind and body deteriorate, she finally succumbed to the effects of it in 2015. This journey is never an easy one for any family to go through. The caregivers and family members all undergo this massive lifestyle changes. Physical, psychological, emotional, social, and economic changes occur in the life of the caregiver and patient. Along this journey, many disciplines will be researched. Becoming more knowledgeable of the cost and effect this
According to Black et al. (2010), the surveys performed is their study provide information that show caregivers of people with dementia have increased reports of fatigue, helplessness, stress and onset of depression symptoms. This study continues to state that the caregivers are usually family member and that they take on the financial burden and they can spend as much as one thousand dollars a month for prescriptions and other medical care (Black, et al., 2010). O'Rourke, Cappeliez, and Neufeld (2007) performed a study on caregivers responsible for people with dementia and the relation to recurrent depression. This strengthens Black et al. (2010) article by showing that caregivers are significantly compromised and during the 10 year study these caregivers have reports symptomatic depression and furthermore leading to decrease in their physical health. Another study by Mitchell et al. (2015) states that there is a strong correlation between increased amount of time spent caring for the dementia person and increased distress of the
Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s is a hard task which brings stress to people who are providing care out of their own generosity. This aid is beneficial to the patient, but can wear out the providers mentally and physically. As caregivers, they may spend more time caring for loved ones then themselves which could lead to a variety of health problems including: vulnerability to illnesses, loss or gain of weight, or chronic pain (“Medletter” 55). This ailment can take away the precious time of caregivers leaving them stressed from the constant care they provide. Although stress is an affliction to caregivers, frustration can also impact them.
Dementia is a decline in your mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with your daily life. Dementia is not a specific disease it is an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms. Scientist and Doctor Alois Alzheimer presented a paper in 1906 on this disease also known as Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can be severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform the everyday activities, like normal. There are a couple of different types of dementia that you can get.
After heart disease, cancer, and stroke, the fourth leading cause of death for adults in the US is AD, occurring 7-11 years after onset.2, 4 Often emotional and psychological issues as well as difficulty for families and caregivers are created due to the dementia. Towards the end stages of the disease, mood changes and decreased motor control have already occurred, an individual may become silent, withdrawn, and lack understanding. Dehydration or disease infection is often the cause of
You have ready different ideas about Dementia and its effects on the aging body. Indeed, dementia can be a great challenge for your elderly loved ones. However, its signs and symptoms may come naturally with all your elderly loved ones’ daily activities. Your elders might also find this alarming if you would not be able to know and understand their problems.
The information in the blog, aims to create a better transition for the caregiver by giving them the knowledge and skills that they will need to be supportive. One other important factor of dementia is that with the lack of cognitive function comes a security risk for all involved. The individual with dementia may become unaware of what is right and wrong creating events like behavioral changes. That will cause harm to the sufferer and or the
If your loved one did not suspect they had dementia before, this is the stage where it will likely be discovered and diagnosed. Completing daily tasks becomes a challenge due to worsening short-term memory. Personal care, hygiene, housework, and important events may be forgotten. This means bills may not be paid and medications may not be taken. Directions, time, and geography often cause confusion due because of disorientation. In the later part of stage 3, an individual may get lost in a familiar location. Dementia care is highly suggested at this stage. Many seniors will need private home care to remain safe and independent, and others will want to have support to get their lives in
Difficulty recognizing people and places, remembering their phone number, where they live and how to get there, short-term memory loss, confusion, poor concentration, distraction, and an inability to solve problems and learn new things all encumber the cognitive effects of dementia (“Dementia, Its Effect and Impact on a Person”). Secondly, someone may find complications in everyday tasks. The management of money, verbal skills, and even following social cues are examples of functional interferences (“Dementia, Its Effect and Impact on a Person”). Moreover, dementia drastically affects an individuals behavioral functions. Where there was once someone of noticeable extroverted qualities, he/she is now forced to the confines of their home without an ounce of sociability in them. Additionally, they may have overactive responses and repetitive questions or display an increase in physical/verbal aggression (“Dementia, Its Effect and Impact on a Person”). Correspondingly, a dementia patient will suffer from frequent mood swings. At one moment he/she could be very social, laughing and communicating like they used to, then ten minutes later they grow significantly more frustrated and irritable. Similarly, family members of their loved one will also notice changes in personality, anxiety, loss of motivation, and depression (“Dementia, Its Effect and Impact on a Person”). However, although these effects are direct corollaries of dementia and directly influence the individual at hand, its effect on the caregiver is equally important and is worth noting. In fact, around seventy-four percent of caregivers were somewhat concerned about maintaining their own health while caring for a dementia patient (“2016 Alzheimer’s Statistics”). Due to this, although caregivers are forced to be attentive towards their loved one, it is