Something More Pleasant

1) describe how cognitive, functional and emotional changes with dementia can affect eating, drinking and nutrition.

Travis Ruhland’s book, Caring for Kait, ties into the discussion of adult development and aging that we have been having in this course well. Though this book’s focus, Kaitlyn, did not get the chance to live life into old age, there are still relevant themes that can be found in the narration of her battle with cancer. I will examine themes related to aging that I found in her husband’s narration of her battle with cancer: memory changes, feelings of control and lack thereof, and spirituality.

Reversing Roles In Roz Chast’s Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? : A Memoir she argues throughout the story as people age, the roll of authority seems to become reveres and is often a burden. During the novel, it is clear that as Chast’s parents get older their health is slowly going downhill.

Being diagnosed with dementia will affect people in different ways. The service user could become withdrawn and depressed, this will affect their well-being and how they look after and treat them self’s. They can start to self-harm or neglect them self’s through personal hygiene or through there eating, eating too much or too little. They may even become so depressed and down in mood

Communication - The person with dementia may have problems communicating that they are hungry or that they don't like the food they have been given. They may communicate their needs through their behaviour. For example, they may refuse to eat or hold food in their mouth. Giving them a choice of food, or using prompts and pictures, may help.

- Describe how cognitive functional and emotional changes associated with dementia can affect eating drinking and nutrition:

Individuals with dementia have loss of communication or memory so they can be treated unfairly by carers or relatives because they may not have the capacity to challenge abuses or to report what has occurred. For example they can use offensive or insulting language.

In both short stories, it is evident that aged traditions possess the capability to construct barriers between the strong bonds existent in families. Traditions have the ability to turn

New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast produced an honest memoir called ” Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant”. The memoir focused on her relationship with her parents in their declining years. In the novel she writes about an experience that people have faced, or will eventually face: becoming caregivers for aging parents and the end of life issues that come with it. The realities of illness are hard and can be a difficult topic to discuss, but the author brings her signature sense of humor to this topic in a skilled way. The book was based on actual events, conversations and experiences she had in the authors she had with her parents in their later years. She portrays her characters as well as her self in a relatable way, by not sugar coating

Malnutrition and vascular dementia are serious conditions that do not develop overnight, therefore there are signs and symptoms to recognize this risk before it escalates. The signs of dementia including forgetfulness, confusion and difficulty with everyday tasks (McGinley,

Dementia often includes symptoms such as memory loss, trouble doing normal everyday activities, and problem solving. Once the symptoms come, they will most likely stay. They will only become worse and worse over time, so it’s necessary to try and come to terms with the disease. Caregivers can try to make the person affected as comfortable as possible as their body is slowly transitioning. Because there is a loss of blood flow to the brain, signals that are necessary in order to keep the body functioning properly eventually stop being sent. The muscles will stop being sent signals to move, and sometimes the signal to breathe can even be stopped.

1.4 The impact the behaviours of carers and others may have on an individual with dementia include becoming more confused and frustrated as they do not understand what you are telling, are using body language that suggests something different to what you are saying. They may feel you are telling them off or

Doubt, concern, anger, pain, hopelessness. Words to describe the ageing process; which starts at birth and does not end until death. In the memoir “Do I Know You” by Bette Ann Maskowitz, creates an unforgettable portrait of an ordinary woman at the end of her life. A touching account of the author`s and her sister`s attempt to aid and assist their mother as she grows older and must cope with her declining health.

People who suffer from dementia may also be at risk of mal-nutrition. People with dementia rely on others to help them to organise their day to day life such as preparing their meals. People with dementia are at risk of mal-nutrition as they may not be physically able to provide themselves with a balanced diet, there may also be the issue that they are not able to remember whether they have eaten and therefore decide not to make themselves

Thank you for asking this important question: In your clinical practice how do you incorporate body composition wellness while dealing with patients with impaired cognition or dementia?