The abilities and needs of an individual with dementia may fluctuate because they are having a good/ bad day. Also this may change daily because of stress levels, if they have not had enough sleep and stress. This can cause the individual being frustrated, confused and have added memory difficulties. The individual’s needs and abilities may also fluctuate because the condition has progressed or being the later stages of dementia. Throughout these stages the individual will need more support on a day too day basis and more encouragement.
Unit 4222-365 Understand the process and experience of dementia (DEM 301) Outcome 1 Understand the neurology of dementia 1.1 Describe a range of causes of dementia syndrome Dementia is caused by damage to the brain this can be caused many different ways such as, alcohol or drug abuse, brain injuries, depression, infection (HIV, UTI), vitamin deficiency, certain medications. different types of dementia have different causes for example Alzheimer’s is caused because the body can no longer break down proteins efficiently which affects the transmission of signals in the brain. 1.2 Describe the types of memory impairment commonly experienced by individuals with dementia Memory loss affects people with dementia in different ways but there are four common areas which people with dementia experience difficulties, Remembering events Most individuals who have dementia can remember the distant past more easily than whats happened in the past few months, weeks, days, hours and minutes. This is because memories decline in reverse order making newer information harder to recall. Taking in new information People with dementia find it very difficult to understand and retain new information and events.
They can forget to take medications, forget that they need to eat or drink or wash and change their clothes. 3.1 The cause of dementia include various diseases or infections, Drugs, head injuries or malnutrition 3.2 Signs and symptoms of the most common causes of dementia include memory loss, personality change, impaired intellectual function. A noticeable decline in communication and signs of depression, learning and remembering things are forgotten. 3.3 The risk factors for the most common causes of dementia include having a family history, smoking, having high cholesterol and drinking large amounts of alcohol. 3.4 4.1 Individuals living with dementia may experience loss of hearing, which can make things difficult for communication and experience feeling frustrated with others causing misunderstanding of commands.
This makes communication challenging and the care worker needs to learn strategies to improve her sensitivity. Some staff will work with residents with dementia and need a background
As the disease gradually gets worse individuals start to forget about their personal hygiene, personal wellbeing, how to cook or clean in their own home, they forget how to stay safe within their own environment. People with Dementia
Physical symptom of the disease includes lack of coordination, uncontrolled movements and problems with eating and swallowing. This will cause for a need of a nurse or all day care of the person because they will not be able to perform task on their own. Behavioral problems are said to come from damage to the brain as the disease progress frustration and depression has a serious affect on the person. Everyone does not go through the same sypmptom people are affected differently. The disease can consist of : clumsiness, uncontrolled continual muscular contractions, loss of balance, slurred speech, walking difficulty and stumbling, and falling.
Poor communication between the service user and carer is a factor, he or she may be unable to express their concerns or opinions. If an individual is not mobile or bed bound, they are frail and powerless to defend themselves. Someone who suffers with dementia and is aggressive may be susceptible to abuse as care staff may not know how to deal with this and become frustrated and lash out. Question 2a (Weighting:
C. Stage Two - Their memory and ability to take in new information continue to deteriorate. This may lead to serious mistakes, such as turning on the gas and forgetting to light it, and the person may need supervision. A sufferer may forget what they were saying mid-sentence, forget the meaning of words, have trouble calculating or making plans or decisions, and become much slower in speaking and understanding. Other problems in this stage may include changes in personality, such as becoming paranoid, obsessional or even violent; wandering and becoming lost; and difficulties with personal hygiene. D. Stage Three - Sufferers become apathetic, fail to recognize people or even their own reflection and can no longer control their bladder and bowel functions.
This is the stage which is called the end of life stage. Some people at this stage may not be able to talk. Some old people give up on life at this stage because they be highly dependent on others, they be stuck in a care home, their family probably rarely comes to see them and they be in a lot of pain. Attitudes Once you turn older your attitude changes. It changes towards your life, your family and towards the society.
In the middle stages of Alzheimer’s individuals will need more support to help them eat, wash, dress and use the toilet. They are more likely to become very forgetful and neglect their own personal care. They will also become upset due to losing their independence and due to chemical imbalances within the