Dementia is defined as a clinical syndrome caused by a wide range of diseases that affect the brain. It is not a natural part of aging, but rather a symptom of a disease process. The majority of individuals with dementia experience emotional distress or behavioral problems as a result of a decline in cognition; the behavior is best described by the term agitation [3].…
The term dementia is commonly used to describe a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders associate with progressive cognitive decline (12). The common symptoms of dementia are “memory loss, mood change, impaired reasoning”, which eventually lead to impairment in regular daily activities (12).…
Dementia can also bring about a case of changed behaviour and mood swings. “Dementia is caused when the brain is…
Symptoms may include memory loss, mental decline, confusion in the evening hours, disorientation, inability to speak or understand, making things up, mental confusion, inability to recognize common things, irritability, personality changes, restlessness, lack of restraint, wandering and getting lost, anxiety, loneliness, mood swings, depression, hallucination, paranoia, inability to combine muscle movements, or unsteady walking. A person who has contracted dementia can experience all of the aforementioned symptoms as they are separated into five different categories. Those categories are the cognitive, behavioral, mood, psychological, and muscular functions which all are affected by dementia. As a result of how many different groups that dementia can affect, it can affect people in such a severe way that they often cannot recognize family members or understand speech.…
How would you feel if you were unable to effectively communicate your feelings and emotions? Would you become frustrated, depressed, or even angry? Alzheimer’s disease affects numerous people, in fact one in ten people age 65 or older has Alzheimer’s dementia. Alzheimer’s causes memory loss and gradually diminishes a person’s ability to communicate; therefore, learning how to effectively communicate with those who have Alzheimer’s is very important. Good communication with an Alzheimer’s patient can be challenging, but will greatly enhance the quality of life of someone who has Alzheimer’s.…
Other symptoms of dementia include the loss of the ability to focus and pay attention, disruption in speech or the loss of speech ability, apathy, confusion, and the inability to reason or impaired…
I currently work full time at a nursing home as a state-tested nurse aide. My job is to assist people who cannot care for themselves to perform basic care that is required on a daily basis. A few of my job duties include helping residents of this facility with bathing, getting dressed each morning, brushing their teeth, assisting them in eating their meals, and taking them to the restroom,. That is just a small amount of tasks I complete in during an exhausting 12-hour shift. In the medical field, this care is called activities of daily living, or ADL’s for short.…
The numerous forms of dementia are rather difficult to explain or quantify in layman's terms, but there are universal symptoms. Memory loss is a key symptom and perhaps the cruelest blow dealt by the disease. Loved ones and friends might also notice severe or subtle personality changes as well as impaired reasoning and physical skills…
A nurse who attends to and clarifies nonverbal and verbal communication displays interest, caring and acceptance of the patient; This can lead to a trusting relationship between the nurse and patient even if the patient has difficulty communicating or an altered thought process including dementia patients…
Financial exploitation of our elder society continues to reach epidemic proportions. It is a form of elder abuse that often goes under-reported or ignored. We need to educate and train our professionals and concerned citizens. We need to generate new laws and regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of our elders. As of 2013, 44.7 million people were 65 years or older.…
My first time working with a Parkinson’s patient I was unprepared for what I was going to encounter, I was unaware of the emotions and feelings that I was going to experience when dealing with a patient with Stage 4 Parkinson’s. I was unaware of how much the disease affects a person in their activities of daily living and how they are able to express themselves. My patient was unable to speak more than a few words at a time and I was unable to show any facial expressions. This worried me in the beginning and I felt quite uneasy about dealing with the situation because I was unsure of how we were going to communicate effectively enough so that I was able to get all the information that I need and so that in turn he would also be able to understand…
Hearing loss can occur with age. It can mimic some signs of dementia like speaking louder than before and inability to follow a conversation. Rapidly changing moods within a few minutes can also be an early sign. Energy changes can include sleeping for prolonged periods of time, social withdrawal (not speaking to anyone) and staring or watching television for long periods of…
This causing them to become less aware of their actions and how they treat others. a. ‘’Emotional changes occurring in dementia are predominantly negative in nature, such as apathy, irritability, withdrawal, self-centered behavior, and agitation. ’’ b.…
Being a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for elderly comes with many challenges, and I didn’t discover this until after did my clinical at a nursing home. There, I observed many opportunities for learning and growth in long-term care. With the permission of my instructor, I explored around and had a little time to communicate with the senior citizens. I continued to make observations and found that communicating with the elderly presents difficulties that impact the CNA’s ability to implement routine care. Communication barriers can create stress and tension between CNAs and senior patients.…
Elderly people with dementia may suffer from harm, abuse and neglect. (Society, 2017) they are at a higher risk due to their disabilities, poor health and increased frailty. (de Chesnay and Anderson, 2008). They are also vulnerable to abuse as they may find it hard to share their feelings and experiences or recall what happened to them.…