List of different techniques that can be used to facilitate positive interactions with an individual with dementia?

·        Make sure person is conscious (Not sleeping)

·        Noise free environment

·        Be patient

·        Use of gesture, writings, cards and pictures if required

·        Use clear, short and simple phrases for conversation

·        Repeat conversation if required

·        Nod gently when person is replying or trying to reply

Identify ways of working that can help improve partnership working

Identify skills and approaches needed for resolving conflicts

 By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

 

Why must dementia not be viewed as disability? (Give example)

People with dementia can live active and fulfilled lives with little assistance from others or assistive technology. They experience emotion like everybody else. They have their identity, a history of present, past and future. They are aware of their independence and dignity. Treatment for dementia is also under development. Treatable disease or treatment under research cannot be described, defined or explained as disability.

Example: Mrs A has difficulties in remembering her daily tasks. A simple note can help her to remember her daily tasks. Gentle reminder (from alarm clock to our daily note) required in every person’s life even without dementia. Mrs A is not different from us. Picture, cards and facial expression may help a person to communicate if someone have communication problems.

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

What impact could the attitudes and behaviours of others have on an individual living with dementia?

The implication of dementia on a person and his or her relatives and who care for them can be devastating. In the early stages of the disease, life of a person with dementia and their families and relatives may not change a great deal. But when dementia becomes more serious however, home life for the person with dementia will not be easy as family and relatives will find it tiring and stressful. It is quite common people with dementia have sleep disturbance. So family and relative may experience sleep deprivation. Also providing personal care to a person with dementia by  family or relative may cause physical injury. The following impact can occur:

·        Stress

·        Melancholy

·        Tiring

·        Insomnia

·        Difficulties maintaining family life and work life balance

·        Difficulties maintaining social life

·        Physical and emotional harm

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

Unit 201, Assignment 2: Case study

Assignment 2.2

It is 1 year since Aggy was diagnosed as living with dementia and although the medication has helped her, she is becoming increasingly confused, forgets to eat and drink and when reminded, she takes a mouthful of food and immediately walks away. Aggy walks up and down the corridors all day and sometimes does so at night. The care team are becoming increasingly worried that Aggy will become malnourished and frail due to her lack if eating and constant walking.

 

·        How can Aggy’s life be better managed within the care home?

First, we need to find out the root cause for her wandering behaviour. Could it be that Aggy is bored restless as little to do to occupy her or wishes to explore the environment or wishes to go somewhere or finds difficult to relax in this environment or is in pain or uncomfortable or frightened. When we will be able to find the exact root cause for this behaviour, then we can put a strategy for Aggy to eliminate or minimise the cause in order to manage her life better within home.

·        How could Aggy be encouraged to eat and drink?

Person centred approach may help her to eat or drink. Providing her choice of food and drink may help her to eat and drink. Talking to her family and friends we may be aware of eating and drinking behaviour. Prompt encouragement is also required. Also, discussing issue with colleagues, supervisor, manager or other health professional may help to find a way to manage better.

·        How can the issue of Aggy’s sleep and rest be managed?

Exercise sometimes help to better sleep. Also bright light therapies help in some occasion. Caffeinated drink or milky drink before bedtime may help Aggy to have better sleep. Nightmare or hallucination sometimes cause sleep disturbance. Discussing with GP may help to resolve if this is the case. We have to consider sleeping environment such as less noise, comfortable bed, right room-temperature, less lightings after Aggy to fall on sleep to avoid getting up in the midnight.

   By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

 

Assignment 2.1: Case Study

2.1

 Aggy is 82 years old and has lived in the location where you work for 2 and half years. Recently, Aggy has become very forgetful, appears confused and is sometimes unable to recognise her daughter or her surroundings. Aggy's daughter is very upset by the recent changes to her mother's health and is convinced that she is now living with dementia.

2.1

·    How will a diagnosis be achieved for Aggy?

Aggy’s diagnosis for dementia can only be achieved by her GP. Aggy’s Friend, family member or carer should contact her GP for early diagnosis as soon as the symptoms are appearing.

·   What consideration will medical professionals use when carrying out Aggy’s diagnosis?

Medical professional should consider Aggy’s symptoms, age, other medical history, cognitive skills, psychiatric evaluation, recent medications, depression, relationship status and social status etc. Medical professional should also consider the following causes for her forgetfulness, confusion and disorientation in order to determine the right cause:

Ø  Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Ø  An overactive and underactive thyroid gland

Ø  Dehydration

Ø  Poor Nutrition

Ø  Side effect of continued medication

Ø  Urinary tract infection

Also other symptoms like depression, melancholy and stress

 

level should be examined.

·   What medication could be prescribed for Aggy and what desired effect would this have?

There is no cure for dementia. But various medications and therapies doctors use to delay the progress of dementia. In aggy’s case doctors may prescribe anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication along with other psychological therapies such as cognitive stimulation therapy.

·    How would medication help Aggy?

Cognitive stimulation therapy involves taking part in various activities and exercises which can improve aggy’s thinking and memory skills. It also helps to regain self-esteem. Sedative drug may help her to better sleep if the cause is arises from sleep disturbance. Also anti-depressant medication helps person to relaxing mode.

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar



 

What impact could the attitudes and behaviours of others have on an individual living with dementia?

The implication of dementia on a person and his or her relatives and who care for them can be devastating. In the early stages of the disease, life of a person with dementia and their families and relatives may not change a great deal. But when dementia becomes more serious however, home life for the person with dementia will not be easy as family and relatives will find it tiring and stressful. It is quite common people with dementia have sleep disturbance. So family and relative may experience sleep deprivation. The following impact can occur:

·        Stress

·        Melancholy

·        Tiring

·        Insomnia

·        Difficulties maintaining family life and work life          balance

·        Difficulties maintaining social life

·        Physical and emotional harm

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

How may depression, delirium and age related memory be mistaken for dementia?

Depression, delirium and age related memory problem has got the very similar symptom as dementia such as confusion, speech difficulties (short term), anxiety, short term memory loss, lack of concentration and other mild cognitive impairment. An individual living with dementia may also show confusion, lack of motivation, memory loss, difficulty to understandings and poor judgement which is same symptom of depression, delirium, melancholy and age related memory problem. Therefore it is very easy to mistake one for another as symptoms are same. To identify main cause, one have to rule out other causes.

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

What are the key function of the brain that are affected by dementia?

Frontal Lobe: Responsible for movement, behaviour, interpretation and personality.

Parietal Lobe: Controls language, recognition of people, places and spatial awareness.

Occipital Lobe: Controls eye sight.

Temporal Lobe: Control memory, hearing and speech.

By Md. Foisal Miah Talukdar

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What is meant by the term Dementia?

Dementia is a progressive illness caused by many symptoms. Dementia is a term used to describe a set of symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, speech difficulties, understanding and judgement which effects an individual’s daily life and activities. Dementia occurs as brain cell dies and damage in parts of brain.