My Hero In My Life

Dementia, which interferes with daily activities, is not a normal part of the aging process. It is either caused by Alzheimer’s disease or by a stroke, and affects a person’s ability to speak as well as a person’s memory. It is most important to remember that this may be frustrating for the nurse, but it is also frustrating for the patient. At times, the patient may not realize that they are not cognitively aware and cannot hold a conversation, and at others they realize this, but there is nothing they are able to do about it. We must not rush them in conversation or day-to-day activities, but encourage them that they are doing great; we must remember that they are people too, and still desire human

‘‘Dementia’’ representing multiple related illnesses leading to a steady decline of memory and thought processes and reduced ability for orienteering and sound judgment coupled with a diminishing awareness of time, space, and direction (Tranvåg, Petersen, & Nåden, 2013). Florence Nightingale – Her principles remain the foundation of nursing today. With Dementia affecting 4.1% of persons aged 70–74 years, 5.7% of persons aged 75–79, 13% of older people between 80 and 84, and 24.5% of seniors above 85 years. The total number of people suffering from dementia worldwide was estimated to be 35.6 million in 2010, and due to an aging population, these numbers are expected to increase substantially in the decades to come (Tranvåg, Petersen, & Nåden, 2013).

By the numbers, Alzheimer’s disease looks even worse than it may be. The cost of Alzheimer’s overwhelms the caregiver and everyone involved with the patient. The price businesses pay for Alzheimer’s it detrimental to their industry, show by “A 2002 study showed that United States businesses lost $36.5 billion that year because employees missed work or quit and had to be replaced so that they could care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease” (Adams 24). The caregivers play vital roles in the lives of the sufferer, but the business take an even heavier loss. Heath care is necessary for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, however it can get expensive “The costs of

Providing care for a person with dementia is like being on a roller coaster ride that never ends and the ride can make the caregiver sick. In order to discuss dementia caregiving, a definition of dementia and the impacts of dementia are needed. Dementia is the generic term used by health care professionals to describe a person’s symptoms of memory and judgment issues (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015b) and furthermore is a growing problem in the United States of America (USA) and around the world. Currently 5.3 million people in the USA have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and dementia numbers are expected to increase by 40% in the next decade (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015a). Dementia care is

At Rosener House, our group focused on the outcome goals for improving the quality of care for Alzheimer’s participants, which includes the objectives and initiatives that Healthy People 2020 has laid out for the elderly population. Our target population has cognitive and some physical impairments that may lead to frustration, agitation, and antisocial behavior. The participants have the same health concerns as the rest of the elderly population with additional complications of dementia. The key for this group of adult day care residents is to involve their primary caregivers in all of the education sessions, monitoring, and lifestyle changes.

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

I worked closely with the activities director in the dementia care unit. I was tasked with setting up activities and games, preparing snacks, and transporting residents. This experience confirmed the importance of having patience and compassion, and the value of having a proper bedside manner when interacting with others. I was also able to see how difficult it was for the families of those residents with dementia and realized the support they needed when making decisions for their loved one. I found myself listening to families’ grievances and desired a higher level of understanding of medicine to treat patients with disabling

On February 7, 2011 I attended the Alzheimer’s support group held at St. Roberts Adult Daycare Center in St. Charles, Missouri. Tina Joyner facilitated this group of nine caregivers and three students. There were two groups conducted simultaneously; one for the caregivers, the other for the individual who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The

Alzheimer’s and Dementia are becoming more prevalent in America, caretakers and medical professionals are urging people to become more self-aware of these diseases. Dementia is a disease that can develop into other disorders such as Vascular Dementia or Parkinsons Disease; however, in most cases, it usually ends up as Alzhiemers. It 's a typically seen in older people; about, sixty five and older, so of course one would automatically put themselves, and their family out of the picture, that is until one of you gets it. In most cases one primarily thinks of Alzheimer’s and Dementia as diseases that they, as well as anyone close to them would necessarily not get anytime soon, or maybe even ever. Due to increased medical costs, and scarce specialized facilities; seniors with Alzheimer’s and Dementia are not quite the recieving proper, sustainable long-term care.

Growing up, we live life creating new memories but never think that one moment we won’t be able to remember what we have created. Sadly, Alzheimer’s attacks two-thirds of all women in the United States, including my grandma Felicitas, who is pictured singing to the mariachi and enjoying life. The photo captures my grandmother’s happiness and even though such memories will never live in her mind, they will always stay in ours through this photograph. Alzheimer’s affected our interactions around her, it affected how our family functioned, and we had to adapt to new feelings such as denial, frustration, and acceptance. We learned how to cope with this and become a stronger family not only for her but also for everyone around us. Alzheimer’s doesn’t affect only the person living with the disease but also those who care for them and love them; this is how my family is also a victim of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive and degenerative disease that destroys memory and other cognitive functions. The effect and manifestations of the disease is awful and sad. There is no cure, but treatment to relieve and manage symptoms. Additionally, I will always remember this resident and the experience I had in helping to care of him.

Alzheimer’s disease slowly steals a person’s dignity and erases precious memories. The “Alzheimer’s Disease Guide”, found on WebMD explains that tasks become more difficult to do often leading to confusion and behavior changes. The article further explains the progression of the disease also brings hardship to family and friends (1). To best cope with Alzheimer’s we must better understand the disease.

Patricia Smith, a 75-year-old female was diagnosed with dementia eight months ago of no specific type, was admitted into an acute care hospital with respiratory distress. Ever since being admitted, Patricia faces many complications, involving agitation and restless while in bed. Patricia is known to be an independent and selfless woman who focuses on helping others such as her husband, four adult children and four grandchildren. Patricia is provided with a care improvement plan during her stay in hospital. Due to the natural complexity of dementia, the proposal focusing on key aspects involving Patricia’s experience of admission into hospital. Exploring how Patricia and her family are facing the new changes and identifying the challenging aspects.

After Alzheimer's is diagnosed in a parent, or other elderly family member, the caregiver has the task of deciding what the best form of care for the patient is. In order to do this they have to fully understand what the disease is, and

Personal Statement Medicine has always been a passion of mine and my love for it has developed over the years for several reasons. I have an insight about some medical care from my grandparents, who always suffered from heart and cholesterol problems. I learned, from an early age, how to measure blood pressure, what its symptoms are and what are the necessary actions that should be taken when someone is going through a high or low blood pressure. I have some medical experience when trying to immediately find out my grandmother’s blood pressure, and trying to succor the problem until a professional arrived. I felt a sense of happiness and accomplishment from this experience.