Outline The Social Model Of Dementia

Dementia

Please answer the following

DEM201 Dementia awareness Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria Outcome 1 Understand what dementia is The learner can:

1. explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ ?

Dementia – is the chain of signs and symptoms which effect the human brain. As a result of this changes in the brain occur which are irreversible. These changes lead to memory loss, difficulty in planning and learning, confusion and changes in behaviour.

2. Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia ?

( what is the main symptom of Dementia and how does this affect a person ? )

There are 4 main parts of the brain. Each part of the brain is responsible for different systems in our body.

- Frontal Lobe

– this part is responsible for controlling behaviour, movement, personality, understanding and interpretation.
- Parietal Lobe – mainly this part is responsible for our awareness, to recognise familiar places or people.
- Temporal Lobe – this part of the brain is controls our memory, ability to speak and hear.
- Occipital Lobe – this Lobe help us to see.
Depending on which part of the brain is affected by Dementia the person will have different symptoms.
If Dementia affects the Frontal Lobe the person may suffer from changes in behaviour. The person may be aggressive, less sympathetic or lose motivation. Body coordination and movement can also be affected. Person may lose the ability to walk, hold objects and follow instructions on what to do next. Memory can also be affected.
Person with affected Parietal Lobe will not recognise objects, faces and surroundings. This can lead to that person feeling constantly lost and surrounded by strangers.
People with affected Temporal Lobe will lose ability to communicate and understand information.
Affected Occipital Lobe will cause the problems with vision.

3. Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia.
Depression, delirium and age related memory may be mistaken for dementia as the symptoms are similar. Depression can lead to changes behaviour. People suffering from depression can have their mood affected, be more withdrawn, eating and drinking habits can also change. All these symptoms are similar to dementia. Delirium can lead to confusion and disorientation. Delirium is caused usually by infection. Difference between Delirium and Dementia is that Delirium is affects the brain without damaging it. When people become older they can lose their ability to remember things, this is the normal process of ageing but can be miss diagnosed as Dementia.

Outcome 2 Understand key features of the theoretical models of dementia The learner can:
1.

outline the medical model of dementia

Medical models of Dementia concentrate on the clinical base and how the changes occur in the brain.

“Dementia as a clinical syndrome is characterised by global cognitive impairment, which represents a decline from previous level of functioning, and is associated with impairment in functional abilities and, in many cases, behavioural and psychiatric disturbances” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55480/

2. outline the social model of dementia

The social model of Dementia is based on human disability. This model is based of what the person is unable to do because of their barrier and disability or impairment cognition.

3. Explain why dementia should be viewed as a disability ?

People who suffer from Dementia lose their ability to do a daily task. They are unable to do shopping, prepare meals, deal with bills and money. They can forget to lock the door, turn off the cooker or water. They may have difficulties with their mobility and coordination. Person who has a disability experiences this same problem.

Outcome 3 Know the most common types of dementia and their causes The learner can:

1. list the most common causes of dementia

?
- Alzheimer’s Disease – caused by chemistry changes in the brain which lead to the death of protein cells in the brain.
- Vascular dementia – is caused by a blocked blood vessel which may delivery blood to the brain. Because of the blockage the brain doesn’t received enough blood.
- Lewy body dementia – This type of dementia is caused by abnormal protein cells in the brain.
- Frontotemporal dementia – is caused by the dying of nerve cells in frontal lobe of the brain.

2. Describe the likely signs and symptoms of the most common causes of dementia ?
Alzheimer’s Disease – memory problems, disorientation, problems with behaviour and mood, minor problems with communication.
Vascular Dementia – memory loss, disorientation, confusion, difficulties with organisation, planning and focusing on the task.

Lewy body dementia –memory loss, hallucination, difficulties with mobility, muscle stiffness, shaking and dizziness, problems with sleeping.

Frontotemporal dementia – persons behaviour and mood are changed, difficulties with communication.

3. Outline the risk factors for the most common causes of dementia ?

There are lots of factors which could cause dementia. Those who have someone in the family with Dementia are at a higher risk of developing Dementia because Dementia can be in the genes and those genes are passed to the next generation. Someone with Downs Syndrome is also at high risk of developing Dementia in earlier years of life. Others factors which could cause dementia are: Stroke, Diabetes, High cholesterol, smoking and alcohol-Korsakoff’s Syndrome.

4. Identify prevalence rates for different types of dementia.?

According to WHO – World Health Organisation “there are 47.5 million people affected by Dementia worldwide and there are 7.7 million new cases every year”

Alzheimer’s Society publish the report on Dementia and how many people are affected in UK

Age Female% Male%

Total%
65-69 1.0 1.5 1.3
70-74 2.4 3.1 2.9
75-79 6.5 5.1 5.9
80-84 13.3 10.2 12.2
85-89 22.2 16.7 20.3
90-94 29.6 27.5 28.6
95+ 34.4 30.0 32.5
In 2015, 720,251 of the 856,700 people in the UK with dementia will live in England, 45,321 in Wales, 70,162 in Scotland and 20,966 in Northern Ireland. – Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer's disease: 62%
Vascular dementia: 17%
Mixed dementia: 10%
Lewy-body dementia: 4%
Fronto-temporal dementia: 2%
Parkinson's dementia: 2%
Other: 3%
Details taken from – Alzheimer’s Society
Outcome 4 Understand factors relating to an individual’s experience of Dementia The learner can:
1. describe how different individuals may experience living with dementia depending on age, type of dementia, and level of ability and disability ?
Different types of dementia affect people in certain ways and because of that peoples abilities and disabilities will vary. People suffering from Parkinson’s Disease will have problems with their movement coordination and mobility but memory will be not affected. People with Alzheimer’s Disease will suffer mainly from the memory lost. People suffering from Vascular dementia will experiencing problems with hallucination, incontinence and difficulty with planning daily tasks.
Age plays a vital role in people’s disabilities and abilities. Those who suffer from Dementia in the early years of their life, less than 60’s, may not require so much help from others like those who are diagnosed with dementia in later years of life.

2. Outline the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with dementia?
To support people with Dementia it is very important to provide person – centred care. The new way of approaching people with dementia is to put our self in their world rather to explain them where they are. For example : We are supporting an 85 year old gentlemen who thinks he is 30 years old and still working in a pub. If we try to tell him that he is retired now and living in he care home, he will not believe us. This also can cause him distress, anxiety and could change his behaviour. If we let him believe that he is still young and still working this approach will be more effective. In this way we will gain his trust and respect.