Existing gaps in policy program and practice
Although there have been different interventions, policy programs and approaches to dementia, there still remain a significant amount of gaps in practices.
Evaluation studies have shown that even though there is certain evidence showing different forms of interventions for dementia, the amount & quality of care provided is poor. For instance, a dementia study had results which revealed that about only 35 percent of suggested care quality indicators being achieved (Reuben et al., 2009). When referring to some factors behind this, it was realized that most physicians are not so much interested in educational and counseling sides of dementia care, as well as not having sound knowledge on other
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Recommendations
The WHO highlighted that “Poor understanding creates barriers to timely diagnosis and to accessing ongoing medical and social care, leading to a large gap in treatment” (WHO, 2012). However this could be avoided with proper creation of awareness & guidance for easy understanding of dementia, as well as eradication of stigmatizations which tend to devastate dementia patents and their family/carers even more (WHO, 2012).
The medical community working independently with little to no cooperation with the local Alzheimer’s Associations chapters suggests that most health practitioners and organizations are not working together in other to maximize dementia interventions (Reuben et al., 2009). This can be a potential barrier, because most interventions need a cross-sectional approach from both the health workforce and other department workforces (other organizations outside health such as transportation, infrastructure development, etc.) to fully maximize benefits of the intervention. This is basically saying, everyone needs to work together and not making any step of the process a “one man’s job” or depending on a particular profession-model (Reuben et al., 2009).
In delivering validation therapy, most people (especially families & carers) feel worried of its approach, as it might require being untruthful to the dementia patient regarding reality. This means that
Current legislation and government policy were put in place to ensure that care providers provide the best possible care for dementia patients. Government equally provide funding to improve care environments to help to manage the condition of people with dementia as they are less likely to get confused or become distressed within an environment designed with their needs in mind.
A proper diagnosis of dementia is essential, in order to rule out other conditions that may have symptoms similar to dementia and that may be treatable, including depression, chest and urinary infections, severe constipation and brain tumours . Also to rule out other possible causes of confusion, such as poor sight or hearing; emotional changes and upsets, such as moving or bereavement; or the side-effects of certain drugs or combinations of drugs. Folllow up diagnosis can enable a patient to access advice, information and support
Instead of treating all people with dementia the same – it makes the care you give
• Every individual, including individuals with dementia, has their unique life history, lifestyle, culture and preferences, including their likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests, which makes an individualised approach in care necessary.
Dementia does not only impact the people with symptoms and it also disturbs the people who must care for the person. It is estimated that 1.2 million people are involved in the care of people with dementia. It has a financial burden on the Australian economy $4.9 billion in 2009-10. (1)
Focusing on dementia, it is not constantly possible to involve the dementia sufferers in the decision making course of their care without encouragement and assistance by
Working in a hospital setting predominantly with older people, I have encountered many who have been diagnosed with dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe the symptoms caused by certain diseases or conditions of the brain of which there are two main types; Alzheimer’s disease and Multi Infarct dementia more commonly known as Vascular dementia. Dementia is caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain which cannot be replaced which means that dementia is a progressive condition that gets worse over time and cannot be reversed. It is also a long term condition because it takes months or even years to progress and there is no actual cure. (Alzheimer’s Society 2014) This degenerative condition is more common in older people, however,
This essay will aim to introduce the term dementia including the types, causes, prevalence, young onset and models of care. This essay will continue to address what skill could be implemented to provide person centred care with understanding of health promotion and recovery concepts.
The main motives include providing more knowledge and understanding of dementia and also its effect on behaviour as well as it progression rate. Provide carers with an impressive understanding of available local support services and how they can be accessed. It also aims at assisting in surpassing the shock relating to an initial diagnosis of dementia as well as ways to maximize life and well-being.
Dementia is an extremely common disease among the elderly, with 4 million Americans currently suffering from the Alzheimer’s type alone. Figures show that 3% of people between the ages of 65-74 suffer from the disease, rapidly increasing to 19% for the 75-84 age bracket, and as high as 47% for the over 85s. Therefore, it is easy to see why Dementia is such a large part of many people’s lives, whether they are suffering from the condition themselves, or have an elderly relative who requires full time care just to undertake simple day to day tasks. The disease can be extremely traumatic for the patient and their families, as the person, who may have been extremely lively and bright throughout their
It also shows the need for more effective treatment method to stabilize the disease process and provide quality care for dementia sufferers.
The aim of this study is to determine if staff have adequate knowledge as to how to care for people with dementia. Additionally, discussing how this information can be used to further develop education to improve the quality of care.
In many cases patients with dementia wait a long period of time to go to the doctor after they start experiencing symptoms because they think it is a natural part of aging. The patients with dementia notice symptoms far before their care givers do but do not explain them to anyone. The fact that the patients wait so long to see a doctor about their symptoms and the lack of knowledge of the disease by the patient and care givers is a major hindrance to getting an accurate diagnosis and care. The care givers of the dementia patients play a major role in the diagnosis process as results showed they either promote or hinder the start of the diagnosis process. Early detection is essential to helping the patients live the best lives possible with dementia. Although treatment does not cure dementia it is usually much more effective in slowing in the progression when started in the early stages and an early diagnosis
In this section I will use evidence, and compare practice and opinion with popular models and approaches to care. Dementia experience and care has changed dramatically over recent years, and it is now more recognizable that people can live well with dementia. Historically, it has been viewed largely as a biomedical phenomenon with a trajectory of irrevocable decline related to neurodegenerative changes (Hall et al, p11). Dementia care in the past had been modelled on a biomedical approach, putting the emphasis on diagnosis and treatment for the individual. It focused on individual symptoms and behaviour and looked to minimise these through interventions such as drug treatments (NHS SCOTLAN). Through the biomedical approach, dementia was seen
Dementia is a progressive process, with the symptoms and decline in function often worsening, sometimes rapidly, overtime. Although the elderly population are most frequently affected, many younger patients can also be affected. Currently, no cure, be it medical or behavioural, has been isolated, however certain treatments have proved beneficial in delaying the onset or staying off further rapid deterioration. In addition to pharmaceutical treatment modalities, other support and managerial techniques may enable n enhanced quality of life.