The Importance Of Dementia

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Dementia is an umbrella term of a cluster of progressive neurological diseases that results in cognitive functions such as memory decline (WHO 2012). Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2016) reported that dementia has become the second leading cause of death in Australia since 2013. The marked physical and cognitive functional declines over time often results in placing individuals with moderate to severe stage of dementia in the aged care facility with high level of care. Dementia associated behavioural symptoms, such as agitation and confusion, are the clinical manifestations throughout the trajectory of the disease, which impacts on residents’ quality of life and increases the stress of caring staff (Gitlin, Kales & Lyketsos 2012). …show more content…

2009; Hansen, Jørgensen & Ørtenblad 2006; Health, NCCfM 2007; Health, NIf & Excellence 2006) Activity I: Patting the Balloon Rational: Individuals with dementia are often positively response to the play-centered activities, such as balloon game, that are derived from childhood play (Beerens et al. 2017; Pulsford, Rushforth & Connor 2000). Patting the balloon creates sensory and motor stimulations, which could increase individuals’ social awareness and interaction (Pulsford, Rushforth & Connor …show more content…

2016). Literature can also stimulate and retain cognitive functioning (Woods et al. 2012). Equipment: A book Card with words Activities design: • Ask and assess residents’ reading capacity, residents with impaired reading capacity can still enjoy listening other’s reading • Start with a page or card that has few words • Poems learnt from schools may be preferred • Offer opportunities for chatting on a particular picture and topic • Try using the phrase, “tell me about…” • Give a compliment after a person’s reading (e.g “well done”) Special considerations: • Choose large front size for a person to see and read easily • Avoid materials with dense text • Avoid questions that are complicated Intended outcomes: Residents will enjoy the engagement and pleasure of shared reading and listening activities. They will be provided with appropriate cognitive stimulations by reading and listening to words at all stage of dementia. Individuals with impaired comprehension can still enjoy reading. Sources: (Longden et al. 2016; Woods et al.

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