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