The Notebook: Movie Analysis

Alzheimer’s disease can have a big effect on family members around the person with the disease; it would be upsetting seeing a loved one got through such a major change in their behaviour and their mental capability. If you live with someone with Alzheimer’s and they are wondering in the middle of the night and have sleep difficulties and this can disturb the family in the house. Also if they are wondering around in the middle of the night around the community the police may pick them up, meaning they are again disturbed as the police will need to contact someone to make sure that the person is ok. There are also worries about financial problems that the Alzheimer’s sufferer may have, if they cannot manage

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.

Living with dementia can be overwhelming, stressful and emotional. There is a lot to take in, appointments and assessments to attend, sorting out what support you are entitled to, care preparation, wishes and preferences.

There are many community services out there to aid dementia patients these may include community nursing, meals on wheels, homecare, home modification, Alzheimer’s Australia, commonwealth centerlink centres, carers association, counselling, ACAT and respite care.

Family/friends: when an individual is given a diagnosis of dementia it impacts on their friends and family too, they may feel angry or guilty but may also have an overwhelming fear of what they can do to support the sufferer and each other at present and in the future. Will they be able to cope with the level of commitment to the individuals needs on top of their own daily trials? Not to mention the added financial/emotional stress. Support services are available for care givers alongside the person suffering with dementia via Gp, social services or online forums.

Caregivers play a crucial role in the care of dementia patients. Providing care for dementia patients results in stress related health impacts to the caregiver. The caregivers go through a journey with the dementia patient and need a strong support system. The best approach to dementia care is for health care providers to provide information to and monitor the caregiver, in addition to the dementia patient, encourage the caregiver to take care of themselves, to seek support, and to work as a team to provide the best care for the dementia patient.

Patients that have Alzheimer's get cared for just as well in care facilities as they would in their own home. In care facilities these patients are equipped with 24-hour staff that is there to help them, housekeeping, and transportation. Many times, when the patient with Alzheimer's is home alone they may decide to wander around outside. This is a sign that a person needs care at all times and it may be time for them to be put in a facility where they have 24-hour care. Even if a loved one is put in a care facility, they can always be visited by their families so that they can feel more

Different families are equipped at different levels to tackle a disease as brutal as Alzheimer's. Some families are able to provide a lot of support through the entire progression of the disease. Other families do not have the time or expertise to provide the level of care that is required to keep their loved one safe if they are still residing at home. Other times, a family caregiver will enter into the caregiving arena with the best of intentions only to find themselves overwhelmed by the amount of support required by a person with Alzheimer's. The good news is that whether your loved one needs a little support or a lot, whether they need full time care or supplemental assistance, Comfort Keepers has Alzheimer's care specialists that are ready to provide the type and level of support your senior loved one requires.

When individuals move in a home family should consult professional and do their own research to know what is will be best for person with dementia. They should not just consider where the bed is available for to move in, morally that will be wrong. This is likely to happen as a result of involved parties to just want to get over and done with it and forget that there are dealing with a person’s life (Hughes, 2002) Environment that one lives in plays a significant role on their day to day life and choosing the best residential home may not change their mental status but maintain a quality way of life (Hughes, 2002).

Dementia is an umbrella term for brain disorders that affect memory, thinking and communication. In the US alone about 5.4 million people have been diagnosed with a form of dementia of which 96% are individuals over the age of 65.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes”(AFA 1). Millions of adults of the age 65 and older have been diagnosed with this serve diseases . Based on their condition they should be placed in a nursing home , because they're going to get the treatment they need . It also prevents the patients from hurting themselves and other members of the family. Nursing homes can benefit the patients in many ways and help, them accept their condition. Patients are able to interact with people with their same condition or have a different illness. They also provide counseling for the family members of the alzheimer's patients where they give them the support they need , and they’re able to learn more about the illness of their loved ones .

There are places where people with Alzheimer’s are better fit if the family members are no longer able to perform the tasks. There are retirements housing which may be appropriate for someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s who is able to take care of them, most of the part, but finds it difficult to manage a home. This type of housing barely has any supervision and does have many activities, transportation, and simple necessities. Another type of housing is Assisted Living, which is the middleman between living independently and going to a nursing home. What are normally provided is housing, meals, activities, and necessities. Depending on the resident case they are able to have 24 hour help and that is where Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Caregivers come into play. They are in charge of caring for the patient as well as med reminders, taking patients showers, putting the patient in bed, and other day-to-day needs. There are nursing homes also known as skilled nursing facility or custodial care. Nursing homes provide 24-hour care and basically do everything for the patient. Alzheimer special care units are designed to meet the specific needs of the individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

The movie “The Notebook” is the story of Noah and Allie - an elderly couple living the rest of their days out in a retirement home. This film shows the effects of dementia on patients as well as their caregivers. This movie expresses its message through a love story but focuses more on the grave issues related to dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, often starts with memory impairment and gradually worsens over time. In the later stages, patients may lose their ability to perform activities of daily living, having difficulty communicating, mood and behavioral changes.

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

The family are expected to care for the person with dementia at home, often despite their own health.