Some neurocognitive disorders
associated with aging include Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Delerium. I want to
talk to you today about Alzheimer’s, including what it’s about, what some
common symptoms are, and what treatments are available. We will discuss some strategies
we can use to promote the individual’s and the caretaker’s health, well-being,
and quality of life. Many local resources/services are available to help
individuals and families coping with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of judgment and other intellectual functions, which can be caused by Alzheimer's.
Family members, friends and neighbors can share responsibilities and support the main caregiver. Professionals like geriatric care managers can help you find helpful services. Health care providers understand the disease and the level of care needed and can offer suggestions on how to help. Mental health or social work professionals can provide emotional support and find ways to help deal with caregiver stress.
Connecting with people who provide support is an important part of caregiving. You can reach The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) by calling 866-232-4484. They offer free Alzheimer’s and dementia support groups, led by licensed social workers who are trained in dementia care. These groups allow caregivers to connect, share and support one another.
Some common warning signs of
Alzheimer’s disease are:
aMemory loss,
especially of recent events, names and places
aConfusion
about time and place
aStruggling
to complete common tasks such as brushing their teeth
aTrouble
finding appropriate words
aDifficulties
in judging situations
aChanges
in mood and personality
There are three stages of
Alzheimer’s disease. They are early (mild), middle (moderate) and late (severe):
aIn
the early (mild) stage, they may forget words or misplace objects, forget
things they just read, ask a question over and over, have trouble making plans
or organizing and forget names.
aIn
the middle (moderate) stage, they may have increased memory loss and
confusion, problems recognizing family and friends; constantly repeat motions, stories,
or favorites (such as foods, places, songs; they may have less ability to
perform tasks such as planning meals, paying bills; and may lose interest
in hygiene and appearance and need help choosing clothing for the season or occasion.
aIn
the late (severe) stage, they may have near total memory loss and
only recognize faces but forget names and they may mistake a person for someone
else. They might have delusions, like thinking they need to go to work, even if
they dont work. They may need to hold something close for tactile stimulation,
nurturing, companionship and comfort. They may lose the ability to do things
like eating, walking and sitting up, and they might not know when they’re
thirsty or hungry. At this point, they’ll need help with all daily activities.
There are growing numbers of
people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia being admitted to acute care
hospitals. Hospitalization can be difficult and is often associated with
negative outcomes, but nurses have been making efforts to design, implement and
evaluate interventions to improve nursing care of people living with these
diseases (Moody et al., 2024).
Personal caregivers have an
important role in supporting and caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Caregiving can be complex and may lead to them dealing with psychological,
physical, social and financial stress from caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s
and dementia (Reid and O’Brien, 2021).
Alzheimer’s is a devastating
progressive disease and can be extremely difficult for not only the person with
this disease, but for the family and loved ones as well. It’s important that the
caregiver realize they’re not alone. Support groups can be a wealth of
information and assistance in this very critical time of need for everyone
involved.
References
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (2023). Alzheimer's
Foundation of America | About Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
Moody, E., McDougall, H., Weeks, L. E., Belliveau, A.,
Bilski, P., Macdonald, M., Williams, L., Khanna, I., Jamieson, H., Bradbury,
K., Rothfus, M., Koller, K., & Adisaputri, G. (2024). Nursing interventions
to improve care of people living with dementia in hospital: A mixed methods
systematic review. International journal of nursing studies, 158,
104838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104838.
Reid B, O’Brien L (2021) The psychological effects of caring
for a family member with dementia. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.
2021.e1295. Published online: 11 August 2021. The
psychological effects of caring for a family member with dementia.
No comments:
Post a Comment