According to Healthy People 2020 (2017), dementia is a medical condition that appertains the loss or decline of cognitive functioning such as remembering, thinking, or reasoning to the extent of interfering with the individual’s daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of Dementia which accounts for the majority of the cases diagnosed. As such, family members, caregivers, and individual patients need to be aware of the intricate changes on a person regarding signs and symptoms. These include extreme loss of memory, difficulties in problem solving and planning, challenges in completing simple and familiar tasks at work or at home, confusion with regards to time or place, difficulties in decoding visual images and spatial relations, challenges in using words in speech or writing, personality and mood changes, poor judgement, and misplacing things with inability to retrace steps (Alzheimer’s Association Organization, 2017).
Caregivers, family, and individuals should also be educated on the risk factors leading to acquiring the disease. These include medication side effects, dehydration, delirium, family history, depression, deficiency of vitamin B12, brain tumors and infections, and chronic alcoholism (Healthy People 2020, 2017). Despite Alzheimer’s disease being the sixth leading cause of death for adults aged above 18 years, its prevalence is specific to female adults aged 65 years and above. As such, the three groups of people identified above should be aware of age and gender as additional risk factors.
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In effect, dementia is the leading cause of disability in the U.S, and as the disease worsens, patients require more medical attention and long-term care which strains their families and caregivers financially, physically, and emotionally. As such, solutions and interventions need to be geared towards reducing the costs and morbidity associated with DIA to improve and maintain the quality of life. To this end, the number of undiagnosed patients with dementia needs to be reduced through implementation of a rigorous screening program throughout the country. In essence, the more the number of dementia patients is known, the easier it is to provide care to them. In achieving this, availability of effective diagnostic tools needs to be increased substantially in healthcare institutions. Medical management efforts and initiatives will also serve as solutions to decreasing the severity of behavioral and cognitive symptoms of the patients.
In advanced dementia, interventions such as palliative care should be applied by caregivers as well as family members. The care is in terms of feeding the patient and other caring activities which alleviate pain and improve the quality of life as death approaches (Murphy et al., 2016). Caregivers, especially in nursing homes, should be sensitized on Stimulated Presence Therapy in cases where the patient is agitated or distressed. This therapy involves playing personalized videos or audio recordings that ultimately calm the patient (Abraha et al., 2017). Also, part of the solution is to use conventional effective drugs such as the Memantine and Cholinesterase inhibitors that bolster cell-to-cell communication which in effect helps reduce symptoms such as depression and agitation.
Some solutions need not be clinical but as simple as providing a safe and supportive environment. This can be achieved through implementing regular habits and minimizing memory demanding activities. For instance, one can pool keys, mobile phones, wallets, and other things in one place. Moreover, keeping photographs and other personal objects that have attached meaning to the patient is always advised to maintain the well-being of the patient. It is also advisable for families and caregivers to involve the patients in exercises such as walking to elevate the mood as well as keep the muscles including the heart healthy. Nutrition for patients with DIA is crucial owing to their forgetful nature. As such, family members and caregivers should always include high levels of calories and water in the patients’ diets. These diets include smoothies, juice, and healthy beverages excluding caffeinated ones (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017).
Ultimately, based on the expenses accrued by the patients, caregivers, and families, support in terms of finance and legal resources should be provided. Moreover, the patients should be enrolled in health care plans to help offset their expenses and bills. Due to loss of memory associated with the disease, the healthcare insurance plan should ensure payment for the patient’s medication is automated. This will ease the daily life of the patients thereby improving their quality of life with constant support from their families and caregivers.
References
Abraha, I., Rimland, J. M., Lozano ‐ Montoya, I., Dell'Aquila, G., Vélez ‐ Díaz ‐ Pallarés, M., Trotta, F. M.... & Cherubini, A. (2017). Simulated presence therapy for dementia. The Cochrane Library.
Alzheimer’s Association. (2017). 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer’s Association. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/10-signs-symptoms-alzheimers-dementia.asp
Healthy People 2020. (2017). Dementias, Including Alzheimer's Disease. Healthy People 2020. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/dementias-including-alzheimers-disease
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Alzheimer’s disease: treatment. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20167132
Murphy, E., Froggatt, K., Connolly, S., O’Shea, E., Sampson, E. L., Casey, D., & Devane, D. (2016). Palliative care interventions in advanced dementia. The Cochrane Library.
