Mr. C: A Case Study Of Dementia

A4) Describe the impact the behaviours of carers and others may have on an individual with dementia.

Dementia as a clinical syndrome is characterised by global cognitive impairment, which represents a decline from previous level of functioning and is associated with impairment in functional abilities and in many cases behavioural and psychiatric disturbances.

• In order to understand the situation an individual with dementia, and help most effectively, we need to look at situations from the point of view of the person with dementia.

Instead of treating all people with dementia the same – it makes the care you give

Dementia is a term used to describe a collection of signs and symptoms that happen to the brain when it is affected by the progression of certain diseases such as vascular dementia (when brain cells die due to lack of oxygen) and Alzheimer’s disease (a specific brain disease). Some of the affects these diseases have are on a person’s memory, language and communication abilities, behaviour and ability to make rational judgements.

The patient I have chosen to write about is a seventy year old male who has been married for nearly fifty years. He has two grown up sons, both married with

Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Healthcare Values and Ethics Western Governors University Jean Renelien 000809006 January 16, 2018 A1: Potential Ethical Dilemmas As healthcare providers, we are often faced with situations and decisions that require us to make ethical and moral decisions. As a healthcare provider, we take an oath to do no harm and put our patients first. I am a licensed registered respiratory therapist, and in my role, I have a duty to care for my patients and provide adequate treatment and respiratory support that falls within my scope of practice.

In this case, the most ethical approach would be involving family members or their guardians. The best interest principle requires the decision maker to apply their own knowledge, values, and expertise to make the decision on behalf of the patient. The decision in this case is made with the patient’s best interest at heart. On the other hand, the principle of substituted judgment, the decision maker attempts to make the decision based on the known preferences and values of the patient. The healthcare administrator is required to assess the situation and recommend the best decision making

Focusing on dementia, it is not constantly possible to involve the dementia sufferers in the decision making course of their care without encouragement and assistance by

Preston demonstrates a protective family type of communication. She is the hierarchical figure who determines and directs family communication. Mrs. Preston has communicated to the doctor her current situation, but limits Dr. Harris’s communication to Mr. Preston. As far as Mr. Preston is concerned, he does not know his wife is relating this information to her doctor. Mrs. Preston feels like she has to protect Mr. Preston until enough time is given. Based off of their relationship type, one could assume that the family caregiver type would be partner, but Mrs. Preston has not allowed Mr. Preston to equally share his information and be a part of the possible care of treatment decisions. Therefore, currently, Mrs. Preston takes on the role of a manager type caregiver. She is the dominant figure who dictates communication between Dr. Harris, Mr. Preston, Mr. Preston’s doctor, and

Dementia is a disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury. It is marked by memory disorders, personality changes and impaired reasoning.

3. Discuss the importance of psychosocial considerations in the treatment and care of patients with Alzheimer 's disease and their families.

Dementia is a brain disorder usually irreversible that appears in elderly people with a number of symptoms that cause decreased mental ability of the patient who comes to seriously affect the performance of the basic activities of daily routine and it also has a strong impact on the family. However, most of the time, only receive treatments and therapies the person who is suffering the disease leaving his or her environment outside when it requires special care. I think the family should not be excluded because it is the nucleus where the patient lives and it is mostly emotional support. Understand and address it outside the family context is to deny that the disease necessarily involves alterations in the family system. There is no cure for

1.1 Dementia is the progressive decline in the cognitive function, involving all aspects of perception, thinking, reasoning and remembering. This is largely to do with damage or disease. This is progressive and leads to the deterioration of the mind, affecting an individual’s ability to concentrate on daily tasks. The memory is often affected, causing them to forget people, dates and events that are recent to them, behaviour can be erratic and noticeably different than is usual for them, and the ability to control feelings is also affected. As the disease progresses as do the signs and symptoms.

EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF RECORDING POSSIBLE SYMPTONS OF DEMENTIA IN AN INDIVIDUAL IN LINE WITH AGREED WAYS OF WORKING;