Behaviour_in_Dementia_and_Appropriate_Dealing

BEHAVIOUR IN DEMENTIA AND APPROPRIATE DEALING 1.What is Dementia' 2.Couses and diagnose of Dementia. 3.Dealing and prevention. 4.References. The term ‘dementia’ is often misunderstood. This is not a disease or illness in itself, it is use to describe arrange of signs and symptoms which involve a progressive decline in a person’s mental abilities, namely the ability to remember, make rational judgements and communicate. This decline is the result of damage causes to the brain by specific diseases: -Alzheimer’s disease, -Vascular dementia, -Dementia with Lewy bodies, -Fronto-temporal dementia, -Korsakoff’s syndrome and other. Diagnosing dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages. A definite diagnosis of the causes of dementia may only be confirmed at post mortem or in very rare instances, through a brain biopsy. The GP is the first person to consult. The GP may refer the person being diagnosed to a specialist consultant. Assessment can include conversations with the person being diagnosed and those close to them, a physical examination, memory testes an/ or brain scans. The Mini Mental State Examination( MMSE) is the most commonly used for complaints of memory problems or when a diagnosis of dementia is being considered. Becaming forgetful does not necessarily mean that you have dementia. Memory loss can be an effect of ageing. It can also be a symptom of stress or depression. In rare cases dementia-like symptoms can be caused by vitamin deficiencies and/ or a brain tumor. Dementia is progressive and degenerative- meaning the symptoms will gradually get worse. As more and more brain cells are damaged or die, the more difficult day-to day life becomes for the person with a dementia. What are the symptoms of dementia' 1. Memory loss- is the most common feature of dementia and it is the memory of recent events that is affected first. 2. Disorientation. 3. Difficulties in performing familiar tasks or movements. 4. Difficulties with language. 5. Difficulties with perception. 6. Difficulties with abstract thinking. 7. Poor or decreased judgement. 8. Loss of initiative. 9. Changes in behaviour. Dealing in dementia. Some people, as their experience of dementia progresses, may begin to behave in ways that we find difficult to understand, sometimes we may be shocked, frightened or feel frustrated that we cannot help. Very important is before we assist the person we should know something about them. All information can help to avoid misunderstanding and unnecessary distress. Their room should be a worm and familiar space containing pictures of family and cherished possessions. We should be respond to preserve people identify. Walking with a person to the local shop, around the block or to the garden can be a meaningful activity which is very important and can be used to promote well-being, occupation and stimulation. Activities require a certain amount of imagination on the part of healthcare workers , not just a means of keeping people quiet or just to pass the time. Activities involving the senses(sensory therapy from Agnosia) : sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. We should try to give them some tasks, eg. making tea folding laundry or watering flowers. We have to remember that dementia affects every person differently. Some will be able to retain their social skills and their ability to behave in a socially appropriate way. Others may have a tendency to be blunt, rude, crude or to use inappropriately language. Dementia sometimes means that people lose their previous inhibitions. Sometimes they ask the same question over and over again. That is mean they may not remember asking the question or receiving an answer. We should not be angry or upset with them but try to assess their non-verbal signals because may they would like to say something else. Sometimes a person wanders because they genuinely feel lost. In the care homes when one room or corridor can look much the same as another. To a person with dementia can appear like a maze. A few closed question may help the person to remind what they want, eg. would you like to go to the toilet' or would you like to sit with the others' Do not put back to a place the person has just came from, because can doing the same thing again shortly. Also we should know that all wandering is simply aimless or the sign of a problem. Walking is a good way of stimulating our joints or muscles when they are feeling stiff or un comfortable, and also can better sleep at night .The people with dementia are no different from as. They has a right to make and exercise, choices and decisions based upon their personal preferences, eg. which cloths to wear, what time to get up or to go to sleep. It can prevent unnecessary distress or reduce the likelihood of disempowerment. Sometimes very difficult to understand is the changing in behaviour. This is a result of damage to the brain. A person can became confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes may also include fearfulness, aggression or generally acting out of character. They can forget the inhibitions or social ’rules’. As a consequence can be, eg. undressing in public, exposing oneself or masturbating. We should not laugh at them or scream but check for signs of incontinence, discomfort (to tight ), sleeping, may want to go to the toilet, something itching or there is a urinary infection. Need to take them to their room, bathroom or toilet to check what going on, or to give something to do to distract them. The people with dementia can have also hallucinations or delutions. Try to distract them as well with other tasks, offer to help to find something if it disappeared, remove objects that are causing distress (eg. mirror), talk to them, explain, hold their hand or put an arm around them. Some people can be in depression, angry or aggressive. We should listen and show interest, preserve a positive environment. When they are angry avoid confrontation. Do not raise your voice or became angry yourself but try to understand why it happened and also be mindful of your own personal safety. Respect for a person privacy and dignity is paramount to everybody. The people with dementia may difficulties in communicating, we have to be especially careful and to take it for granted. Prevention At present we are not sure what causes most of the diseases that lead to dementia. This means it is difficult to be sure what we can do to prevent dementia itself. However, the evidence seems to indicate that a healthy diet and lifestyle may help protect against dementia. In particular not smoking, exercising regularly, avoiding fatty foods and keeping mentally active into old age can help to reduce the risk of developing vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. References: 1.Bradford Dementia Group (2002) Well-being Profiling. Bradford 2.Benson S ( ed ) (2002)The Care Assistant’s Guide to Working with People with Dementia. London: Hawker Publications 3.Alzheimer’s Society (2001) Quality Dementia Care in Care Homes: Person-Centred Standards. London