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This essay is a comparative research study into the effectiveness and relevance of two interventions for people with dementia; Reminiscence Therapy and Montessori Method. The two methods will be analysed for their relevance and effectiveness, as well as comparing to discover their differences and similarities, with consideration to the supporting underlying psychology.
In many ways the theories of Reminiscence and Montessori are about effecting the past into the here and now, which in essence is very existential in nature. Corey (2009, pp. 139-150) explains the concepts underpinning existentialism as our questioning of who am I, where am I going, what is life’s meaning, what should I be doing, and contemplating hopes and dreams. These concepts of self-awareness, identity, meaningful relationships, significance, purpose, and of course an underlying anxiety surrounding the question of life and death, are drivers for people to search for safety, especially in a locus such as ageing and dementia. Bryden as cited in (Brooker, 2007, p. 23) tells exactly how a person with dementia experiences the loss of memory and self when she states;
‘Many of us seek earnestly for this sense of the present time, the sense of now, of how to live each moment and treasure it as if it were the only experience to look at and wonder at. But this is the experience of dementia, life in the present without the past or the future’ Bryden 2005 as cited in (Brooker, 2007, p.23).
Many people one works with love to discuss the meaning of life, interspersed with life memories of events, physical, emotional, and spiritual in nature, deliberating at their age their need for ongoing life, when many perceived they would not travel so long.
Therefore it is...
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...fect.Sage Publishing,viewed 4 February 2014, < http://dem.sagepub.com.ezproxy.utas.edu.au/content/7/1/109.full.pdf>
MacKinlay , E. & Trevitt, C., 2012. Finding Meaning in the Expereince of Dementia: The Place of Spiritual Reminiscence Work.viewed 4 February 2014,
Woods, B. et al., 2009. Reminiscence therapy for dementia. Collaboration, The Cochrane,viewed 3 February 2014,
Zinn, . L., 2005. So Simple, It's Genius. Nursing Homes: Long Term Care Management. Feb2005, Vol. 54 Issue 2, p30-31, viewed 3 February 2014,
Nelda McCall (2001). Long Term Care: Definition, Demand, Cost, and Financing. Chicago: Health Administration Press, pg. 19.
Memory plays a significant role in the everyday lives of people of all ages. It allows them to recall information and remember skills that were learned in the past. Memory also organizes past information to help people make current and future decisions. However, imagine forgetting the names of close family members or not having the ability to find your keys every time you want to leave the house. These are some of the struggles that people with Alzheimer’s disease face daily. Alzheimer’s disease was first identified by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, and was discovered to have an overpowering effect on explicit memory loss (Gruetzner, 1988). There are two types of Alzheimer’s disease – early onset and late onset. Early onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed before the age of 65 whereas late onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed after the age of 65. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, short-term memory is often lost. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, problems with long-term memory begin to develop, in addition to short-term memory impairments. Although a lot is known about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, the cause has not been conclusively identified. However, as research continues, new theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease are being proposed. This has led to a controversy over whether Alzheimer’s disease is caused by genetics or environmental influences (Gruetzner, 1988).
Butler, R. (2008). The Carers of People with Dementia. BMJ: British Medical Journal , 336, 1260-1261.
Nerney, C. (2014, April). Dementia. Lecture conducted from Massachusetts’s College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA.
Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States (Help End Alzheimer's.). It is a common form of dementia categorized by a progressive decline in cognitive function (Simmons-Stern, 2010). According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “More than 500,000 seniors die each year because they have Alzheimer's disease”. Therefore Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than prostate and breast cancer together (Help End Alzheimer's.) Although there is no cure or treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease it can be treated with medication, memory activities, and music therapy. The main classification of medication that is used for Alzheimer disease is Cholinesterase inhibitors. A noninvasive and inexpensive intervention to enhance the memory of the Alzheimer’s patient is music therapy. Music therapy is using diverse types of music to promote physical, emotion and behavioral well-being. (Covington,1997). Using music therapy in Alzheimer’s patients has also been shown to expand communication, express feelings and decrease behavioral problems. There has been a certified program rapidly spreading across the Milwaukee area that improves the quality of life in Alzheimer’s patients by incorporating music. Music and memory is a program that aids in memory enhancement and quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients and it has advantages and disadvantages.
Dementia is a disease effecting nearly thirty-six million people worldwide (Whiteman, 2014). Even with so many elderly suffering from the disease, there are many people who don’t know what dementia truly is. People often jump too quickly to the conclusion that dementia is a disease that only effects the memory. They may believe that dementia is inevitable and cannot be cured in any case. They may also believe that dementia is something the majority of elderly will experience when they get older.
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.
Understanding how the brain processes and stores memories has important implication. Dementia is a liberal term that refers to the decline and impairment of speech communication, abstract thought, memory and other cognitive functions. This cognitive disruption occurs to such an extent that they interfere with daily activities Dementia is not a disease itself. Instead, it depicts it describes a group of symptoms that frequently accompanies a disease or a condition. Although, it might initially seem disturbing to consider that half of the adult population will experience the symptoms of a mental disorder. Psychological symptoms without becoming completely debilitated and needing professional intervention most people clearly seem to manage
Non drug treatment includes counseling of patients and family members of the possible mental changes and what can be done to ease the transition. Environmental changes and daily habits can be altered to reduce any obstacles associated with dementia and cognitive exercises can be performed by patients to he...
It is said that memory declines as people age, and this can be just a natural part of life. However, in many cases as people grow older, they develop a mental disorder known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and overall behavior, and progressively becomes a bigger problem. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is a very common disease in people over the age of 65. This terminal disease puts tremendous stress on the victim and the victim’s family. A cure for Alzheimer’s has yet to be discovered; however, through healthy and constant use of the brain and the aid of certain drug treatments, Alzheimer’s disease can be both naturally and medically prevented.
There are a large number of people suffering from dementia. In the U.S. there are thought to be around 5 million people living with age related dementias and this number is increasing. Research shows that 60-90% of people with dementia exhibit some level of distress. This distress can take many forms such as anxiety, anger, fear, depression, and suspicion to name a few. Phycological interventions have traditionally been pharmacological but recently in an effort to use a more holistic approach, healthcare providers have been encouraged to try some nonpharmacological interventions. There are several examples of nonpharmacological therapies that have been studied and proven successful like aromatherapy, reminiscence therapy and music therapy.
Memory is a precious commodity, an incredible, internal gift. As I watch the effects of dementia slowing chipping away at my father’s body and mind, I realize that if there are any good aspects to be found in this condition, to me, is it the fact the oldest memories hold on longer while the recent slip away sooner. My father can still tell the same stories I grew up hearing; he can recall with pride his family’s history. While these old recollections are not as strong as they once were, and maybe not as accurate, at least they are still present in some form; they are still available. I do prefer my father have these memories than the ones of his daily decline. Of course, he knows
Alzheimer’s is a common form of dementia that is believed to be caused by changes in the brain, usually beginning in the late middle ages, characterized by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of mental ability ("The Definition of Alzheimer's Disease"). I chose to research Alzheimer’s because my grandma was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was moved to an Alzheimer’s care unit in Fairbury, Nebraska. Some of the symptoms she suffers from are repeating her sentences, forgetting where she left things, and sometimes forgetting how to play some of her favorite games. Luckily my grandma has not forgotten our names. In my opinion, the saddest part of Alzheimer’s is when the person actually
Dementia is referred to as a condition in which an individual’s everyday life is so fragmented and/or ripped away from reality that he or she loses the ability to reason and think clearly (Berk, 2014). According to Prince et al., 2013, dementia strikes 13% of adults over the age of 65 in the United States and other Western nations (as cited in Berk, 2014). Additionally, dementia causes an individual to experience persistent memory lapses and can be caused by many different reasons like the development of Alzheimer’s disease, stress, depression, PTSD, etc. With this in mind, Dasha Kipers’ article, “Hope Is the Enemy”, goes in depth about what it is like for an individual who suffers from dementia. Furthermore, the article begins in 2010 when Dasha moved into an apartment with a 98-year-old man named Mr. Schecter, who was a Holocaust survivor dealing with the beginning stages of dementia. As Dasha and Mr. Schecters relationship developed, Dasha began to realize Mr. Schecters behavior: putting laundry detergent in the oven, forgetting which floor he lived on, and Mr. Schecters repetitiveness. Thus, in the end of Dasha’s article, Dasha explains that dementia affects not only the victims, but the caregivers as well by making their lives fragmented, skewed, and redundant (Kiper, 2015). For that reason, dementia is seen as being a condition in which everyone involved in
My long-term research interests involve improving and developing a comprehensive understanding the scope of reminiscence therapy for patients with dementia among older adults. My academic training and research experience to date have provided me with an excellent background in using the reminiscence therapy for patients with dementia. As a graduate student at the Hashemite University, I conducted a scholarly paper with Dr. Majd Mrayyan on minimization of physical restraint and avoiding a breach of autonomy's right among patients with dementia. This resulted in a co-authorship publication, as well as an invitation to present a poster at the annual dementia meeting in Jordan. This was the first step in my journey to broaden my knowledge in nursing