When working with hospice patients diagnosed with Dementia, the focus in medicine shifts from curative to that of providing comfort care and symptom control. The end stage Dementia patient typically presents unable to communicate meaningfully, incontinent, unable to ambulate or sit without assistance and exhibits swallowing concerns. The feeding and swallowing issues that arise with the progression of this disease can be challenging for family members, as many loved ones exhibit a need to feed. Providing the caregiver and family education related to not only the death and dying process but also the side effects related to interventions such as artificial nutrition is a vital part of the end of life process. Excellent patient education and condition
Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms associated with decline in memory or other
The reporting party (RP) stated she received a call from resident John Tedford who resides in the assisted living portion of the facility. The RP stated the resident does not have dementia and maintains his cognitive abilities. The RP stated the resident disclosed that money was stolen from his checking account. The RP stated the bank was contacted regarding the account and disclosed that the account was closed on 7/17/15. The bank informed the RP there were two checks issued that were not cashed. According to the RP the resident's checking account contained $10,500 and the savings account contained $169,000 at the time the accounts were closed. The RP stated the bank reissued the checks to the resident and mailed them to his wife's resident.
The World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) defines palliative care as a care that improves quality of life of patients and families who are facing problems associated with their life-threatening illness. This is by preventing and relieving suffering by the early identification, immaculate assessment, treatment of pain, and other problems like physical, psychosocial and spiritual issues. The goal to palliative care is to not only treat the patient but also provide comfort to both the patient and family members. Therefore the review of these literatures will provide insight on the barriers and specific needs that a patient with dementia may have.
Literature Review: The Effectiveness of the use of Sensory Therapy for Elderly Adults Diagnosed with Dementia.
The validation method is a good method to be applied when handling elderly persons suffering from dementia because it gives both caregiver and elderly joy they deserve. The method helps victims of dementia to have their life back by feeling whole, as it makes them safe. It can be used on those who have lost their speech so as to develop alternative ways of communicating such as signing, and also elevate them from feeling frustrated. However, the method may be difficult to use with non-family members due to many touching and intimacy involved with it (Feil, 2000).
Dementia is characterized as a condition where the mental processes of cognition and memory start to deteriorate. It is described as a syndrome that hinders the daily lives of those who have it and is characterized by memory and thinking impairment. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease and the second most common is vascular dementia. Dementia is a syndrome occurring usually, but not limited, to people over the age of 40 and is due to brain damage caused by natural deteriorating, stroke or can be brought on by factors such as excessive drinking or drug abuse. Dementia is best cared for in its early stages and, therefore, an early diagnosis is essential. Recognizing the symptoms by both the dementia patient and the
It is already established that late-life depression is associated with increased risk of dementia, but the temporal relationship between depression and development of
Today the first symptoms of dementia such as memory loss or problems with language lead to a diagnosis of the illness over varied amounts of time. It is not possible to get medication before the diagnosis. Therefore, diagnosing dementia early enables to have access to treatment, information and care. Yet according to the Department of Health, only 46% of the population living with the illness is diagnosed in the UK. The borough of Islington has an especially high rate of dementia diagnosis, with about 64% of the people living with the condition diagnosed.
Each person may experience dementia in different ways. Fluctuation of needs and abilities It is not fully known why somebody with dementia can have ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’. Part of the answer for this could be because we all have good and bad days. This very much depends on how we are feeling, how much sleep we have had, what activity we are doing and how much we want to do that activity. If you do not like doing something, it seems to take forever to get it over and done with. The time drags and your level of boredom or uninterest rises. On the other hand, when you are doing something you enjoy, the time rushes by so that before you know it the activity comes to an end. This theory could also relate to the person with dementia. If the person
Withholding and withdrawing treatment in advanced dementia patient in end of life (EOL) care is always a crucial topic. One of the most discussed treatments is the use of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in EOL. When the dementia progresses, elderly patient’s food and fluids texture changes from minced and nectar to puree and honey consistency. Towards the end of the disease, patient’s health status deteriorates drastically that he or she can no longer swallow food. Hence, the individual gets several episodes of aspiration pneumonia. If the patient is eligible, he or she goes under a surgical procedure to have tube feeding inserted. Depending on his or her advance care directive which is a written statement that has “client’s preferences
End of life care refers to health care, not only of patients in the final hours or days of their lives, but more broadly care of all those with a terminal illness or terminal disease conditions that has become advanced, progressive and incurable. A very critical part in the end of life process is decisions regarding nutrition and hydration. “In patients with far-advanced and life-limiting conditions such as cancer, artificial nutrition and hydration may be offered to those who suffer from potentially reversible malnutrition or dehydration and whose estimated prognosis allows them to benefit from artificial nutrition and hydration. However, reduced oral intake is itself recognized as a phenomenon indicating impending death”. Registered nurses assisting patients and their loved ones in decisions whether artificial nutrition and hydration is beneficial in the end of life.
Dementia has been common, it is becoming more common recently in the elderly every day. Dementia is one of the most disorders affecting the elderly. It increases rapidly within age. Dementia is difficult to determine, Because of all the different studies. It was originally called senility and was considered part of ageing, it is still not clear if this increased the frequency of dementia as a greater awareness of symptoms or if people are just living longer lives.
EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF RECORDING POSSIBLE SYMPTONS OF DEMENTIA IN AN INDIVIDUAL IN LINE WITH AGREED WAYS OF WORKING;
The most frequently occurring early stage of dementia are apathy, depression, and anxiety. It can lead to reduced independence, relationship problems and enhanced admission to care homes. CBT is a widely used psychological approach on the health of patients with dementia and their caregivers. This form of therapy is based on talking treatment the comprehension of situations, that define how an individual feel and behaves.
I believe in tolerance, having a little more patience makes a difference. Working in the hospital setting, I come across various people with different attitudes. Some are nice, others very rude you can barely stand them.