Risk Of Assault In Psychiatric Essay

All of the patients on my unit in my former position were in the beginning and mid stages of Alzheimer’s with one or two very alert ones. The challenge was keeping the more alert residents from rapid mental decline. The key in maintaining the resident’s dignity is providing an environment where they can participate in their level of care,

Dementia is an umbrella term used to explain the gradual decline in multiple areas of functions, which includes thinking, perception, communication, memory, languages, reasoning, and the ability to function (Harrison-Dening 2013). Worldwide, 47.5 million people have dementia and there are 7.7 million new cases every year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. (Alzheimer's society 2014). The complexity of dementia presents a number of behavioural challenges to those who live with dementia and their care providers. Aggressive behaviour seems to be one of the most prevalent challenging behaviours in the different stages of dementia (Weitzel et al 2011). As acute care

1. On an acute inpatient psych unit, such as Riverside ETS (MHITF), most patients are there on involuntary holds. This means that they are considered dangerous to self, dangerous to others, or gravely disabled (as a result of a mental disorder). Therefore, the most important nursing diagnoses to prioritize would be High Risk for Violence, (self-directed), or High risk for Violence, (other directed), or Thought

The purpose of this quasi-experimental pilot project is to determine if providing training for mental health nurses on assessing assault risk in geriatric psychiatric patients will help improve the nurse’s knowledge and assessment of assault risk for this population during their inpatient stay. According to the World Health Organization, “between 8% and 38% of health workers suffer physical violence at some point in their careers”. Violence against health care workers has been extensively studied and research indicates that some areas are more prone to violence towards the staff than other areas of the hospital. The areas that are known for high incidence of assault are emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric units. It also has the highest

As people get old a few of them will experience changes in cognition with age related capacity rather than intellectual capacity. There are some people who get both disparities of mentally and physically impaired that will led into depression due to aging process of their body. Even though, the forgetfulness is a common among older adults, we as healthcare providers must evaluate altered mental status of the patients. “The evaluation and management of altered mental status are broad and require careful history and physical examination to eliminate life-threatening situations”(Patti & Dulebohn, 2017). Therefore, it is very important to recognize the importance of difference between normal age-related symptoms and developing new health problems that can arise in this specific population. As elders get older their memory lapses it frustrating to them leading them to be more worried about changes in their memory. Nurses have a unique capability to promote a cognitive health and determine the possibilities of potential cases of the impairment in elders. The movie “On Golden Pond” Mr. Norman was a perfect example and showed that his symptoms were interfering with his everyday live when he almost burns down the house with fire, calling Bill by his daughter’s name Chelsea and getting lost in on the lake. Even though, Mr. Norman had heart and dementia problems his wife never discouraged him to do what he liked such as

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

Violence in health care is an intriguing subject. Understanding and coping with threatening and violent behavior in mental health settings can be challenging and is a necessary part of being a health care provider (Berring, Pedersen, & Buus, 2016). If the situation is not handled well, patient and staff injuries can occur. A well thought out de-escalation plan and having a process in place is valuable. Having a range of psychosocial interventions that are focused on redirecting patients can help calm them down. The important aspects of de-escalating are being familiar with the patient, understanding the situation, knowing yourself, and having the knowledge of how to communicate in such a situation. Unfortunately, there are not many studies that have explored how staff and patients experience de-escalation methods and further research is needed in this very relevant area of health care.

Many organizations, particularly those working with Alzheimer’s has been committed to advancing Alzheimer education, research, enhancing care and support individuals affected by the disease. I liked the concept when Murna Downs, was talking about educating dementia care skills and knowledge to improve dementia care. It is not only important to integrate dementia care skills for medical professionals but also equally important for non-medical professionals in order to develop the dementia education. I believe it will be great if the organizations like universities help to ensure that their courses address the skills and knowledge which health and social care staff need in order to care for people who are living with dementia.

More than 5 million Americans currently have dementia in the United States and this number is projected to rise to between 8 and 13 million by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). Dementia is known to become more prevalent with age, increasing from 5 to 10 percent in people over 65 years of age to almost one half of people over the age of 85 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). Although family members provide the majority of care for people with dementia, increasing needs over time often lead to placement in a long-term care setting. Dementia is the most common reason for entry into long-term care facilities (Zimmerman, 2013) and nearly 90% of persons with dementia will have at least one stay at a nursing home in their lifetime (Grunier, 2007).

The goals the National Social Advocacy Association for Alzheimer’s Patients is to collaborate with long term healthcare facilities in establishing an innovative, comprehensive social advocacy, intervention, and advance treatment programs in healthcare facilities serving or providing Alzheimer’s patients. One that will help stimulate the “Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous Systems sensory” nerves which will increase the cognitive and mobility functions in Alzheimer’s Patients Marieb, (2006). In addtiont to reducing caregiver’s burnouts, eliminate Alzheimer’s patients injuries due to neglect, increase caregiver’s social awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and its risks facts,

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.

It is a complex disease people often times do not know how to care for. Although a decline in memory and bouts of more forgetfulness are more common as one ages, spotting the difference between normal age-related symptoms and Alzheimer’s is important for families so that they can get their loved one the best care available. Even with proper care though, caregivers can misunderstand the symptoms of those afflicted, leading to an improper treatment of the patient. There are an estimated between 2.4 and 3.1. million AD caregivers in the United States, a majority of which are family members, who may not know proper care techniques or may be of older age themselves, as they could be caring for a spouse (Schulz and O’Brien1, 185-94). In fact, in a study of caregivers of those to patients with a memory ailment including Alzheimer’s or Dementia found that spouses have consistently been found to be more depressed than other relatives caring for a family member with a cognitive impairment (Schulz and O’Brien2, 771-91). To help in awareness, there are many new classes being offered in schools that can better prepare caregivers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHHS) National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease dedicated a major goal to “Enhance Care Quality and Efficiency,” with major strategies including building a workforce with the skills to provide high quality care, explore

In the beginning of the nineteenth century, dementia became a true medical condition. The disease was known to have symptoms of lack of memory, social, and mental disability. When the disease became more severe, people were sent to asylums “In 1907 Dr. Alois Alzheimer published a paper identifying a cluster of symptoms of dementia. These included reduced comprehension and memory, disorientation, unpredictable behavior and difficulties with communication. Thus Alzheimer’s disease was born.” (Welsch 17). Little care and little research were done for people who were suffering from the disease. If not taken care of at home, the person would be sent to a psych-ward facility. There was a debate concerning if dementia was a social or nurse profession. “Since the 1980s the profile of dementia has been raised and how it is viewed has changed. Sufferers are no longer seen as unfortunate victims of diseased brains for whom little can be done, but as fellow human beings capable of responding and enjoying human relationships and having a full bill of rights.” (Welsch 18). Caring for a dementia sufferer will become challenging to recover his or her life. Dementia remains untreatable, but there are medications provided to help prolong the memory of a sufferer. The drug, ‘anti-cholinesterase inhibitors’, helps postpone the effects that will show in the final stages. Supporting and caring for people with dementia will have a large impact on

In the pamphlet Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease, the Alzheimer’s Association adds late onset, traditionally known simply as Alzheimer’s, targets primarily people 65 and older. The disease follows a series of steps from mild decline with little noticed changes to very severe cognitive decline where the final stage of the disease is in progress (Basic 19-21). Throughout the stages, independence becomes lost and family members will become care takers and in the later stages nursing homes or hospice may be needed. One book encourages the care giver to communicate through body language, tone, and written instructions to help alleviate as much stress as possible for those living with Alzheimer’s (Living 47). The book further adds when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s remember to maintain patience and to show respect .

Theorists Betty Neumann, in systems model, focused on the role of the nurse in preventing stress invasion in the patient environment. Increasing the knowledge of the nurse and their perception of demented patients that are at high risk for assault will cause a change in the environment to decrease stress invasion in patients with cognitive difficulties which will intern decrease patient on patient assault. A patient that is demented and admitted in an inpatient facility is at high risk of exhibiting assault because of increasing confusion associated with environmental change and the cognitive difficulties that the illness imposes on them. The nurse who is knowledgeable and aware of these risks will work towards decreasing the behaviors that