Dementia Care Essay

Dementia is a normal condition that affects about 800,000 people in the UK. Your risk of development dementia increases as you know older, and the condition publicly occurs in people oer the age of 65. Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. This includes problems with storehouse deviationthinking speedmental agilitylanguageunderstandingjudgmentPeople with dementia terminate lose interest in their usual activities, and assume problems supportling their emotions. They whitethorn also find social situations ch tout ensembleenging, lose interest in socializing, and aspects of their constitution whitethorn change. A soul with dementia may lose empathy (understanding and compassion), they may see or hear things that other people do non (hallucinations), or they may make false claims or statements. As dementia affects a mortals mental abilities, they may find planning and organizing difficult. Being independent may also deceas e a problem. A person with dementia will therefore usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with decision making. Most types of dementia cant be cured, but if it is detected early there ar ways to slow it down and maintain mental function. Dementia is a collection of symptoms including memory injustice, personality change, and impaired intellectual functions resulting from disease or trauma to the brain. These changes are not part of normal aging and are severe enough to impact routine living, independence, and relationships. There will likely be noticeable decline in converse, nurture, re outgrowthing, and problem solving. These changes may occur quickly or real slowly over time. Common signs and symptoms of dementia includeMemory lossImpaired judgmentDifficulties with abstract thinkingFaulty reasoningInappropriate behaviourLoss of communication skillsDisorientation to time and placeGait, motor, and balance problemsNeglect of personal solicitude and saf etyHallucinations, paranoia, agitationTypes of dementiaThere are many types of dementia both(prenominal) of them areAlzheimers disease it is the most common disease cause of dementia and affects or so 496.000 people in UK. Alzheimers disease, first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, is a physical disease alter the brain. During the course of the disease, protein plaques and tangles develop in the structure of the brain, principaling to the death of brain cells. People with Alzheimers also have a shortage of some essential chemicals in their brain. These chemicals are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain. Alzheimers is a progressive disease, which subject matter that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. As this happens, the symptoms become more severe. Vascular dementia Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimers disease. It is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain. Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person. Typically, the symptoms of vascular dementia begin suddenly, for example after a stroke. Vascular dementia a lot follows a stepped progression, with symptoms remaining at a constant level for a time and then suddenly deteriorating. Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia, such as Alzheimers disease. However, people with vascular dementia may particularly experience problems with speed of thinking, concentration and communication depression and anxiety accompanying the dementiasymptoms of stroke, such as physical weakness or paralysis memory problems (although this may not be the first symptom) seizures Periods of severe confusion.Also there are different types of vascular dementia. The difference between these types depends on what has caused the damage in the brain, and which part of the brain has been damaged. Dementia with lewy bod ies (DLB) this type of dementia shares symptoms with both Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. DLB its often mistakenly diagnosed as some other conditions. Lewy bodies, named after the doctor who first identified them, are tiny deposits of protein in nerve cells. Researchers take int have a full understanding of why Lewy bodies appear in the brain, or how they contribute to dementia. However, their presence is linked to low levels of important chemical messengers and to a loss of connections between nerve cells. Over time, there is progressive death of nerve cells and loss of brain tissue. Lewy bodies are the underlying cause of several progressive diseases affecting the brain and nervous system, notably DLB and Parkinsons disease. The symptoms a person experiences will depend on where the Lewy bodies are in the brain. Lewy bodies at the base of the brain are closely linked to problems with movement (motor symptoms). These are the main feature of Parkinsons disease.Lewy bodies in the outer layers of the brain are linked to problems with mental abilities (cognitive symptoms), which are mark of DLB. Movement problems and changes in mental abilities can occur together. About one third of people diagnosed with Parkinsons disease eventually develop dementia. Similarly, at least two thirds of people with DLB develop movement problems at some point. The symptoms of DLB and Parkinsons disease dementia become more similar as the conditions progress. Together they are referred to as Lewy body dementias. P2 Outline possible effects of dementia on an individuals health and quality of life. As dementia progresses, memory loss and difficulties with communication often become very severe. In the later stages, the person is likely to neglect their own health and require constant care and attention. dexterous effects People with advanced dementia may not recognise close family and friends they may not remember where they live or know where they are. They may find it impossibl e to understand simple pieces of information carry out basic tasks or follow instructions.Physical effects Some forms of dementia dont get worse over time. But Alzheimers and many other dementias do worsen, and they include physical changes that can have an impact on an individuals health. It is not uncommon for people in the later phases ofdementia to move in a stiff or jerky manner. particularly with Alzheimers, stiff, jerky movements just tend to happen as the dementia progresses. People who suffer from dementia also tend to become physically unable to control their body functions, reminding them to go to the bathroom once every two hours can help. Some people may eventually be unable to walk and may become bedbound. People with vascular dementia may also experience stroke-like symptoms, including muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of their body. lyric Communication problems It is common for people with dementia to have increasing difficulty speaking and they may eventual ly lose the ability to speak altogether.It is important to conserve trying to communicate with them and to recognise and use other, non-verbal means of communication, such as expression, touch and gestures. Social effects people who suffer from dementia may become less sensitive to other peoples emotions, perhaps making them seem cold and un regaining. They also tend to lose interest in activities such as socialising with others. As the illness progresses youll have to start discussions in order to get the person to make conversation. This is common. Their ability to process information gets increasingly weaker and their responses can become delayed. Eating, appetite and loss of weight Loss of appetite and weight loss are common in the later stages of dementia. Its important that people with dementia get help at mealtimes to ensure they eat enough. Many people have trouble eating or swallowing and this can lead to choking, chest infections and other problems. Economic impactsDement ia has significant social and economic implications in terms of direct medical cost, direct social costs and the costs of informal care. Impact on families and caregiversDementia is overwhelming for the families of affected people and for their caregivers. Physical, emotional and economic pressures can cause great stress to families and caregivers, and support is indispensable from the health, social, financial and legal systems.M1 Asses possible effects of different types of dementia on individuals and their families. Caring for a person with dementia can be challenging. Theneeds of the person may often come before your own and this can mean that you struggle to manage everything. There are positive aspects of caring, such as learning new skills, building on existing ones, strengthening relationships and supporting someone who is important to you. However, it can also be both physically and mentally exhausting. It affects all aspects of your life and can lead to increased isolatio n, stress, conflicting emotions and sometimes depression. Carers also have their own physical and mental health needs, which can be miss when caring for a person with dementia. It is important for carers look after them so that they do not become unwell and can continue to support the person they care for. Some of the feeling carers/family often develop while looking after a person with dementia are GuiltIts very common to feel shamefaced for the way the person with dementia was treated in the past, conscience-smitten at feeling embarrassed by their odd behaviour, guilty for lost tempers or guilty for not wanting the responsibility of caring for a person with dementia. If the person with dementia goes into hospital or residential care you may feel guilty that you have not kept him at home for longer, even though everything that could be done has been done. It is common to feel guilty about past promises such as Ill always look after you, when this cannot be met. Grief and lossIf someone close develops dementia, the people who were around them are faced with the loss of the person they used to know and the loss of a relationship. People caring for partners may experience grief at the loss of the future that they had planned to share together. AngerIt is natural to feel frustrated and angryangry at having to be a caregiver, angry with others who do not seem to be helping out, angry at the person with dementia for her difficult behaviours. Sometimes people feel like shaking, pushing or striking the person with dementia. Feelings of distress, frustration, guilt, exhaustion and annoyance are quite normal. However, if the care giver feels like this he/she should talk to a doctor or a member of their society. Children and teenagers are also affected by the fact that someone from their family e.g. grandmother develops dementia. Children oftenexperience a wide range of emotions when a parent or grandparent has Alzheimers disease. Younger children may be fearful tha t they will get the disease or that they did something to cause it. Sometimes the younger members of the family do not get all the attention they need because of so much focus on the person who has dementia. They can end up feeling left out.As children do not know or recognize the illness they may feel confused at the persons behaviour towards them and can also feel sad because the person with dementia does not longer recognize them. Children may feel fearful because of an unexplained bad behaviour from the person with the illness and this can affects them emotionally. Teenagers may become resentful if they must take on more responsibilities or feel embarrassed that their parent or grandparent is different. College-bound children may be indisposed to leave home.