Discuss about the Nursing Case Study for Symptoms of Dementia.
Dementia is a medical condition characterized by reduced mental functioning including loss of memory and other problems that can impact the activities of daily living (Markus 2016).it occurs as a result of progressive damage or death of the brain cells (neurons). This condition mostly impact the older adults; thereby, enhancing their level of dependency and need of extra care. In the case study, the patient is an older adult of 70 years old who has symptoms of dementia. The patient, after getting discharge from the hospital settings, needs to be provided with additional care so that he can perform the activities of daily living. There will be need of the family members who can look after the patient along with some help groups or rehabilitation services to support the care needs of the patient.
There are various types of services that are being provided for the patients of dementia and for assisting the care givers so that the patients can live their life with maximum comfort in their home care settings rather than in hospitals. The specific needs of the patient must be analysed before considering the type of services required by him. The four main types of services that are available for the patient of dementia at home include skilled care, personal care services, companion services and homemaker services (Alzheimer’s Association n.d.).
There is an exponential increase in the occurrence of dementia in aging population of Australia.
The self-help groups are the groups that allow the patients and caregivers to share their problems, feelings, ideas and information. In South Australia, there is an organization called Fight Dementia or Fight Alzheimer’s SA that provide multiple self-help services for the patient of dementia, particularly older adult patients as in this case (Fight Dementia n.d.). It is important for the care givers to take help from the friends and family members of the patient to enhance the quality of care for the patient and help him to live a good quality of life. The self-help groups play an important role in helping out the care givers and patient in dealing with dementia.
The main services provided by this organization include personal counselling and advice for the patient, family members and care givers; courses for care givers and programs for allowing the patient and caregivers understand the condition. The organization has started a Living with memory loss program that allows the patients, family and caregivers to interact with other people living with same problems so that they can get motivated and can share their problems with them (Fight Dementia n.d.). The interaction between different people is greatly encouraged in this program. Another program run by the organization is South Australia’s Safe Return Program in which the care givers of dementia patient are being provided with peace of mind to let their confusions vanish.
There are adult day centers where the patient can get an opportunity to socialise and indulge in activities that help in improving his overall health condition (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). There are multiple benefits of taking the patient to adult day centers for both patient as well as for care givers such as providing support services, counselling, management of behaviour (particularly speech problems, sexual behaviour, incontinence and wandering); providing occupational and speech therapies; nutritional assistance; helping with activities of daily living and management of special needs of patient (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.).
Some of the adult day care centres in South Australia can be identified by visiting the Aged Care Services Australia Group wherein multiple care centres are enlisted according to the problem of the patient. Some centres available for the patient include Riverside Residential Care, Scottvale Nursing Home, Brighton Nursing Home, etc. (ACSAG n.d.).
Dementia patients can also be aided by rehabilitation services at home. Rehabilitation has been described as the process of helping the patients suffering from disabling disorders or diseases so that they can achieve optimum social, psychological, physical and vocational well-being (Mary, 2005). These services are focussed on the approaches that help in behavioural modification and in modifying the social and physical environment of the patient in a way that allows the patient to deal or withstand his condition and also continually take part in the activities of daily living. The approaches used in rehabilitative services are non-pharmacological, compensatory and habilitative (Laura and Tracey, 2010).
The Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital in South Australia is one place where rehabilitation services can be availed by the patient. A new program “Story of Our Lives” has been launched by this organization along with the Alzheimer’s Australia NSW for improving residential dementia care (Emily 2016). SA Health is another organization that provides rehabilitations services for the dementia patients. It has launched “Older Persons Mental Health Service” that is focussed on maximising the mental health of the patient. it provides services for the patients of age over 65 years suffering from dementia. The services provided by this program include assessment of mental health, integrating community services for addressing the issues regarding mental health of patient and providing care for maximising the life quality of patient (SA Health n.d.).
The respite services are important to provide the care givers some relief from the challenges that they are facing from providing care to the patients. The Fight Alzheimer’s SA provides respite care facilities to the patient. This service helps the care givers and families to take some rest, giving them the desired break from the problems that they go through while caring for the patient. It also allows the patient to socialise and talk to other people (Fight Alzheimer’s SA n.d.). There are Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres and Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres that provide the respite services to the carers, patients and family members.
Caring Choice is another care service that provides respite and care services for the dementia patients at all ages. The patient can avail recreational services and leisure services at this organization for enhancing the life quality and well-being (Caring Choice n.d.).
Eldercare is an organization that has established a program for the older patients of dementia known as The Dementia Excellence Program. The main objectives of this program are to work in ways that can bring improvement in the quality of life of dementia patient and bring enhancement to their well-being (Eldercare n.d.). The principle on which this program is based is to provide care through person-centred approach. The main agendas of this organization is to provide appropriate rest to the patient, improve management of pain, decreasing the use of psychotropic medications, improve the patient’s wellbeing and understand patient’s behaviour (Eldercare n.d.)
This organization has integrated another program, Lifestyle Program, along with the Dementia Excellence Program so that the care providers and other support providers can provide person-centred care to the patient; thereby developing good relationships with the patients. In this program, the staffs take initiatives to collect all the important information associated with the life history of patients so that they can formulate the care program according to the nature of patient and also engage them in meaningful manner (Eldercare n.d.).
The Dementia Link Workers is a support group that has been initiated by the Fight Alzheimer’s SA for supporting the people suffering from dementia. The main aims of this program is to support the families and patients for accessing the services that are appropriate for them and provide them with the necessary support (Fight Alzheimer’s SA, n.d.).
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