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Dementia
Dementia is a loss of brain function that affects memory, thinking and behavior and is common in old age.
451 Questions
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes changes in the brain's nerve cells and chemicals, leading to symptoms like memory loss, personality changes, and eventual complete dependency on others for care.
A person with Alzheimer's may experience a breakdown in communication, since the disease alters an elderly person's cognitive ability. When a senior with Alzheimer's experiences physical pain, he may express that with aggressive or irritability. Insomnia, urinary tract infections, loud noises, household clutter, and unfamiliar surroundings contribute to a person's aggression. To reduce irritation, anger and aggressive behavior in an individual with Alzheimer's and Dementia, it is recommended to maintain order in the home and consistency with home care. If an elderly person has a different caregiver every week, for example, the constant transition would agitate the individual.
Dementia is a somewhat obsolescent, ( late thirties vogue) catch-all term for mental illness and means ( Out of the Mind)- lit. there was a sort of maxim or slogan: Ex Luna, Dementia, From the Moon, Dementia- or madness. The term is rarely used except for senile dementia- which refers to mental problems in the senior citizen bracket, Alzheimer"s for example. It is interesting both Senile and Dementia are Latin Based- Senile implying age, as in senior, senator- lit. Old Man! and I have already defined dementia. Dementia Praecox is an old-style term for what is now called Schizophrenia, Don"t be a Skeetz!
A link to the complete DSM-IV online is in the "related links" section below.
...(improving here...this link is broken and attempts to lead to a subscription site. I suggest using the DSM V which is online with revisions pending)
Joe Jedlowski Are seniors at a greater risk of developing depression?
Joe Jedlowski
Some of the common symptoms of elderly depression may include:
- Depressed mood, general feelings of sadness and hopelessness, or just feeling blue.
- Diminished interest in most or all activities.
- A change in appetite or weight.
- Change in sleep patterns.
- Change in the pace of psychomotor activity. For example, signs of agitation, restlessness, pacing and hand wringing, slowed speech, and pausing before responding to questions.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt. · Diminished ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness, poor memory and being easily distracted.
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, or talk of previous attempts of suicide.
How do you help someone with dementia understand that he or she needs to live in a care facility?
This is an extremely difficult task, and is often thankless and can cause friction between family members, as you probably know by asking the question. Assuming depression and other medical or prescription-related problems have been ruled out, and dementia has been diagnosed by a medical professional, and appropriate treatments are being utilized, then how to approach it can depend on the stage and type of dementia and, of course, according to the individual.
The early stages are the hardest times to try to convince them there is a problem. They may have been denying the problem for a very long time and compensating for memory loss to keep it unnoticed for long enough to have developed some really good denial skills and covering skills. They often are more adamant and more set in their ways by the age that the symptoms of some forms of dementia appear and become recognized by others. They have excuses and arguments ready to fire off to convince you, and themselves, that they can keep things as they are. Change is the enemy (or the bringer of change sometimes is), unfortunately for the loving people trying to help.
It is highly frightening to some people to think of just moving to a new place. To give up driving - and other things they see as symbols of their independence, on top of that - is more than many people are willing or able to face. This is a very significant adjustment and causes much stress, even in the lives of younger people with full memory and brain function. But it can be emotionally debilitating, or can cause angry outbursts in those with any form of dementia, but especially Alzheimer's Disease. This is in addition to their fear that they have been "found out" and that they must try to accept what they have denied for so long, i.e., that they are unable to care for themselves or live alone.
They will need to hear it presented calmly and lovingly and, most likely, multiple times by multiple people. If there is someone whom they have always respected and trusted and who can be there to back you up (with really nothing more than their presence and a well-timed nod), that can help.
With my mother, that was her family doctor. We slowly started introducing the topic when at our appointments with him, but, in our case, luckily, she was not living alone at the time and was being cared for by my stepfather. He was also able to move with her to an independent living section of an assisted-living community, so that when they needed more nursing involvement in her care, the move was down the hall instead of to a brand-new place. New locations are unsettling to them to a degree we can not even understand. It makes them lose the routines and visual reminders of life as they know it and can essentially grind their thoughts to a halt.
Others that the person may respect and trust are clergy and policemen. The doctor and a wonderful policeman who was willing to talk to her about her need to no longer drive and why (I called the non-emergency police department number and asked if anyone could help) told her the same things we had been telling her repeatedly (but calmly and sensitively). And little by little, she started to accept it. No actual bickering or arguments are allowed, even if they start it. That is a common denial tactic they may use, at best... a losing battle for you, at worst. It gives them justification to make you the "bad guy," and they often will pick a person to be the target of their anger and, sometimes, paranoia ("they only hurt the ones they love"). Your strength will be tested, too.
Later in the dementia process, it is actually easier in some ways, but harder in others, to convince them. As mentioned above, The 36-Hour Day will give you excellent suggestions and explanations of why their behavior is as it is, which will help you better help them.
(See the Related link below.)
Why are demented people in fiction portrayed as sociopaths?
This comes from the dual meaning of the word "demented". It can refer to either (1) a person suffering from dementia OR (2) a person who is mad or insane (regardless of cause). Since the second definition is much more commonly used, it is the one reflected more often in television and written materials. Usually people suffering from dementia in television and written materials are treated empathetically because of the sadness associated with memory loss.
Does the black sacrament work in real life from skyrim?
Hmm, you should probably find a body and try it. If you really had to ask this question, you might want to try it with your own.
sure feels like it to me. dealing with a parent with dementia who looks ok on the outside but asks the same questions over and over again seems to suck the life out of me and puts my brain into a fog for several days afterwards.
How personal attitudes and behaviours impact on the quality of service in your organisation?
Personal attitudes and behaviors significantly influence the quality of service in an organization by shaping employee interactions with customers and colleagues. Positive attitudes, such as enthusiasm and empathy, foster a welcoming environment, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Conversely, negative behaviors can lead to poor communication and reduced teamwork, ultimately harming the overall service experience. Therefore, cultivating a positive workplace culture is essential for maintaining high service standards.
Why is it important to include a variety of food and drink in the diet of a person with dementia?
Because it tastes good and people with dementia are not dogs....
Why is memory affected by senile dementia?
Those are the parts of the brain that get damaged. As a person gets older, they may develop plaques in the blood vessels supplying the brain. Strokes, aneurysms, or other ischemia could damage those areas more directly. They could have Alzheimer's and/or Parkinson's Disease. That would mean that they have amyloid plaques around their neurons or Lewey bodies inside them, and possibly that they are less able to use acetylcholine, serotonin, and/or dopamine.
Implement person centred approaches in Health and Social Care.
Understand person centred approaches for care and support
Person centred values is a theory developed by Carl Rogers that trusted the innate tendency (known as the actualising tendency) of human beings to find fulfilment of their personal potentials. An important part of this theory is that in a particular psychological environment, the fulfilment of personal potentials includes sociability, the need to be with other human beings and a desire to know and be known by other people. It also includes being open to experience, being trusting and trustworthy, being curious about the world and being creative and compassionate.
It is important to work in a way that embeds person centred values so that a person feels free from threat, both physically and psychologically. This environment could be achieved when being in a relationship with a person who was deeply understanding (empathic), accepting (having unconditional positive regard) and genuine (congruent).
Risk taking can be part of a person centred approach as we would choose to use positive and informed risk taking which would involve building a positive view of the individual, and seeking to learn what a persons gifts and skills are and what people admire about them. In person centred thinking we also explore the consequences of not taking the risk so that these may be balanced against the consequences of taking the risk.
Using an individuals care plan contributes to working in a person centred way as this would be constructed by the client with the support of the care worker so that the client has full control over their recovery, instead of the support plan being constructed by the care worker whereby the client feels as if they have no control of their recovery.
Work in a person centred way
In order to find out the history, preferences, wishes and needs of an individual I would refer to any previous files held with regards to that person, as well as discussing directly with the client what the preferenes etc. of that person are.
I use person centred values in everyday working as I am an extremely empathic, accepting and congruent person.
Establishing consent when providing care or support
Informed consent is important to establish when providing care or support so that the client is fully aware of their responsibilities, any actions that will be taken and the consequences of either taking or not taking a particular action or decision. In UK case law it has been established that consent must be given by a person with mental ability to do so, sufficient information should be given to the individual and they should not be coerced into giving consent, if these are not met then consent is considered to be invalid.
The process of establishing informed consent will vary according to individuals assessed capacity to consent.
If informed consent can not be readily established then we must abide by the individuals wishes after explaining fully the consequences of not consenting to a certain action. If a person is mentally incapable of providing their consent then we must refer to any care or support plan or legal documentation that may have been established whilst they were capable of making an informed decision. If none of these are available then consent can be given by their next of kin, but we must involve the individual in the process as much as possible. We do however have a 'duty of care' to a person, if the persons health and safety is at an immediate risk then certain actions can be taken in order to prevent any immediate risk to that person.
Encourage active participation
Active participation benefits an individual as it recognises an individuals right to participate in the activities and relationships of everyday life as independently as possible. The individual is regarded as an active participant in their own care and support rather than a passive recipient.
Possible barriers to active participation may include, amongst others, the mental or physical disability of an individual.
Support the individuals right to make choices
I would support an individual to make informed choices by giving the individual full information with regards to the positive and negative effects of any decisions they make and respect their wish to make that decision. I would use agreed risk assessment processes so that the client was fully aware of any risks involved with regards to any decision they make and would also discuss this with my manager. A workers personal view should not influence an individuals choices as everyone is an individual in their own right and and therefore should be able to make their own choices as their interests would be different to a workers. I would support an individual to question or challenge any decision made by others by giving the individual full information with regards to that decision in an unbiased manner, if the individual wanted to make any changes with that decision then I would discuss this with my manager and use agreed risk assessment processes to enable the individual to make those changes.
Promote individuals' well-being
Individual identity and self esteem are linked with well-being as everyone has their own interests and what one person may find interesting another person may not find interesting, for example, if a person is religious and attends church they find that this is part of their identity and promotes their own self esteem as they may feel they are doing their service to God. Another person may not believe in God and find attending church boring, therefore they may feel that they are being pressured into a belief that they disagree with, therefore taking away the psychological identity of an individual. Other aspects relating to well-being may include spiritual, emotional, cultural, social and political.
Attitudes and approaches that are likely to promote an individual's well-being include listening to and treating an individuals decision with respect and enabling them to implement these into the everyday life, after giving the individual all information available in an unbiased manner, for example, if an individual decided that they wanted to attend church then no matter what my own opinions on this matter may be, I would help the individual to attend church and if necessary attend church with them.
Can electric shock therapy cause dementia in later life?
My mother in law had shock therapy about 16 years ago and now has dementia at 62
What causes frontolobe dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, once known as Pick's disease, usually begins between the age of 45 and 65. There is no disease that leads to this condition but is caused by a mutations of genes.
How can you determine if a person has dementia or alzheimer's?
- Your GP is the first person to contact if you have any worries about your health. If your GP suspects dementia, you are likely to be referred to a memory clinic or specialist. Specialists who see dementia patients include old age psychiatrists, geriatricians, neurologists, clinical psychologists and memory nurses.
- Your GP is the first person to contact if you have any worries about your health. If your GP suspects dementia, you are likely to be referred to a memory clinic or specialist. Specialists who see dementia patients include old age psychiatrists, geriatricians, neurologists, clinical psychologists and memory nurses.
- There is a range of memory tests available, and you might take one or more of these during your assessment. Because dementia usually gets worse over time, the tests may be repeated, perhaps every six to 12 months, to see if there have been any changes.
- Other tests, including blood tests and brain scans, could be arranged. Very occasionally, your doctor may arrange an EEG (brain wave test) or a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) if they suspect a rare form of dementia,
How dementia progresses
Alzheimer's, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia are all neurodegenerative diseases. This means that the symptoms get worse over time. This is usually the case with vascular dementia too. The speed of change varies between people and also between different diseases, but in most dementia's, symptoms progress slowly over several years
Everybody is unique and is affected in their own way. As dementia progresses:
Memory and thinking skills
People may find that their ability to remember, think and make decisions worsens.
Communication
Communication and language often become more difficult.
Behaviour
A person's behaviour may change and some people can become sad or demoralised.
Anxieties
Anxieties or phobias are quite common.
Restlessness
Changes in time perception may cause problems with sleeping and restlessness at night.
Anger
Anger or agitation is common in the later stages of dementia.
Unsteadiness
It is common for people to be unsteady on their feet and fall more often. Extra help Gradually people require more help with daily activities like dressing, toileting and eating.
Below you find some symptoms
Alzheimer's disease
Typical symptoms of early Alzheimer's include:
Regularly forgetting recent events, names and faces. Becoming increasingly repetitive, e.g. repeating questions after a very short interval. Regularly misplacing items or putting them in odd places. Confusion about the date or time of day. Disorientation, especially away from normal surroundings. Getting lost. Problems finding the right words. Mood or behaviour problems such as apathy, irritability, or losing confidence.
Vascular dementia
Symptoms of vascular dementia can include:
Memory problems. Disorientation. Communication problems. Becoming slower in thinking. Personality changes including depression and apathy. Becoming more emotional. Difficulty with walking. Frequent urge to urinate or other bladder symptoms.
Frontotemporal dementia
Symptoms of FTD can include:
Personality changes. These may include a change in how people express their feelings towards others or a lack of understanding of other people's feelings. Lack of personal awareness, such as personal hygiene and grooming. Lack of social awareness, such as making inappropriate jokes or showing a lack of tact. Over-eating or changes in dietary preference. Behaviour changes, including developing unusual beliefs, interests or obsessions. Difficulty with simple plans and decisions. Lack of awareness of any personality or behaviour changes. Decline in language abilities. This might include difficulty understanding words, repeating commonly-used words and phrases or forgetting the meaning of words. Difficulty recognising people or knowing what objects are for.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies can include:
Variation in attention, alertness and confusion. These fluctuations can be very noticeable from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour. Parkinson's-type symptoms, like slowing or difficulty walking, stiffness in the limbs and sometimes tremor. Fainting and falls. Visual hallucinations. These can often involve seeing people or animals that aren't really there. Movements during sleep and vivid dreams. Symptoms similar to Alzheimer's, including memory loss and disorientation.
Yes, it can be. Dementia can cause an altered perception of reality that can endanger a person's life- such as stepping out into a roadway with moving traffic.
What are the symptoms of lewy body disease?
Oh, dude, so like, with Lewy body disease, you might experience stuff like hallucinations, movement issues, and changes in cognition. It's like your brain's playing a game of charades with your body, but not in a fun way. So, if you start seeing things that aren't there or feeling like your brain's on vacation, maybe chat with a doc.
What are Tim kitwoods five psychological needs in dementia?
Tom Kitwood, suggests that people with dementia, have six psychological needs: attachment, love, comfort, identity, inclusion, and occupation.
How does dementia become alzheimers?
Dementia does not spread. Much like our brain grows from the time we are born it begins to deteriorate when we get closer to death. Some deteriorate faster than others. This can be genetic or hereditary. Some parts of the brain will deteriorate faster than others. In some cases the motor skills will deteriorate faster leaving the patient with little speaking capabilities, etc... In some cases the reasoning part of the brain will go faster and you will find wanderers and elopement risks. Of course the memory can also go. Some patients won't even remember where they are, who they are, or what they said a few seconds previous and keep repeating the same phrase over and over.
Vascular dementia is caused when there is a problem in the supply of blood between the heart and the brain. It is because of the clogging of the blood vessel and usually happens after a stroke.
How do you go about getting conservatorship for my mentally ill sister?
That is going to be a complicated issue. You will need the help of an attorney in your state or other jurisdiction who understands the family law in your area.
What effect does anesthesia have on dementia patients?
Giving anesthesia without a brain monitor is like letting your anesthesiologist play Russian roulette with your brain.
Granted most people survive their anesthesia, but that is the 20th century standard of care.
Waking up with the same number of mental 'marbles' one started with is the 21st century standard of care.
The only way to avoid the nefarious practice of routine anesthesia over medication (for fear of under medication) is to use your right to insist on a brain monitor if you are going under anesthesia for surgery.
Brain monitoring is a non-negotiable request. If your anesthesiologist tells you 'no,' ask for another anesthesiologist or go to another hospital where this monitor will be used.
75% of US hospitals have this device, but it is only used 25% of the time. Only you have to live with the long-term consequences of your short-term anesthesia care.
What is known is that up to 40% of patients leaving the hospital go home with brain fog (postoperative cognitive dysfunction or POCD) that can last as long as 1 year.
We also know that one patient dies from anesthesia over medication EVERY day.
Until widespread brain monitoring becomes the standard of care, the true incidence of the 'living death' of dementia will not be known.
