Dementia Awareness 1.1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’. Dementia is a term used to describe a group of illnesses that affect the brain, there are many different types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. Early signs of dementia typically being forgetfulness and confusion (forgetting peoples names or how to get home), as dementia progresses daily tasks can become more difficult to do or understand, things like shopping, using public transport and preparing meals can be increasingly difficult for someone with dementia. It is not just cognitive ability that is affected by the illnesses progression, other things affected by this are language (not being able to understand conversations/not being able to communicate their thoughts and feelings fully/ forgetting words), understanding direction/instruction, the ability to make decisions/plans, vision may be affected (not being able to see things in 3D/misjudgement of distance or surroundings).
People who care for dementia sufferers may find that as the illness progresses they will have to start discussions to get the person to make conversation. This is common. Their ability to process information gets progressively weaker and their responses can become delayed. Impaired depth perception, loss of vision, loss of colour vision, loss of contrast sensitivity and hallucinations are all problems that may be associated with dementia. As a carer non-verbal communication will become important, body language, facial expressions, gestures, eye contact and tone of voice will have to be taken into account when communicating with a sufferer.
Unit 4222-237 Dementia Awareness Outcome 1 Understand what dementia is: 1.1 What is meant by the term ‘dementia’: The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. These include Alzheimer's disease and sometimes as a result of a stroke. 1.2 The key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia : Dementia is a condition of the brain which causes a gradual loss of mental ability, including problems with memory, understanding, judgement, thinking and language. In addition, other problems commonly develop such as changes in personality and changes in the way someone interacts with others in social situations. As dementia progresses, the ability of someone to look after themselves from day to day may also become affected.
The memory impairment may result in lack of attention, forgetting language, forgetting names and identity of friends and relatives and lose of ability to solve problems. confusion another effect of dementia, and also disorientation in which the patient forgets the direction, the time (date, month and year) and everything about the self. 1.2 Describe the types of memory impairment commonly experienced by individuals with dementia: dementia is a condition of the brain which causes a
Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. This includes problems with: * memory loss * thinking speed * mental agility * language * understanding * judgment People with dementia can lose interest in their usual activities, and have problems controlling their emotions. They may also find social situations challenging, lose interest in socializing, and aspects of their personality may change. A person with dementia may lose empathy (understanding and compassion), they may see or hear things that other people do not (hallucinations), or they may make false claims or statements. As dementia affects a person's mental abilities, they may find planning and organizing difficult.
Each person is unique and will experience dementia in their own way. It is often the case that the person's family and friends are more concerned about the symptoms than the person may be themselves. 1.2 Describe the key functions of the brain that are - affected by dementia temporal lobe = responsible foe vision, memory,laugage, hearing,learning frontal lobe = responsible for decision making , problem solving, control behaviour and emotions parietal lobe = responsible for sensory information from the body, also where letters are formed, putting things in order and spatial awareness occipital lobe = responsible for processing information related to vision cerebrum lobe = biggest part of the Brain its role is memory, attention, thought, and our consciousness, senses and movement hippocampus = responsible for memory forming, organizing and storing and emotions 1.3 Explain why depression, delirium and age-related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia Depression is common in the elderly especially those in instituional care setting and those with chronic medical conditions Symptoms of depression in the elderly may include:- - No energy - No appetite - Problems with memory and concentration - difficulty sleeping - Diminished functioning - Vauge back and neck pain
As dementia progresses, the person may develop behavior problems which may seem out of character. These behaviors may include repetitive questioning, pacing, restlessness or agitation. A person with dementia, especially in the later stages, may also show signs of physical symptoms such as muscle weakness or weight loss. Changes in sleep pattern and appetite are also common. 2 - The brain, along with the spinal cord, makes up the central nervous system, and it is this that controls all of our body’s functions.
Outcome 1 - Be able to communicate with individuals with dementia 1.1 Describe how memory impairment can affect the ability of an individual with dementia to use verbal language. There are many types of dementia with differing causes. Some cause loss of language early on, such as a stroke in the speech areas. Others may have a gradual decline with the service user having difficulty finding or using appropriate words or being able to put together complete sentences anymore. It’s important you speak clearly and make sentences as simple to understand as possible when giving a service user with dementia instructions.
DLB is characterized by fluctuations in alertness and attention, recurrent visual hallucinations, and motor symptoms (i.e. rigidity and the loss of spontaneous movement). In this disorder, the cognitive problems, such as hallucinations, tend to occur much earlier in the course of the disease and often precede the difficulties with walking and motor control. The similarities in symptoms between Parkinson’s disease, DLB, and Alzheimer’s disease can make it difficult to determine the cause of the symptoms. Indications that dementia may be caused by something other than Parkinson’s disease include agitation, delusions, language difficulties, and early onset of memory symptoms.
1.2 Describe the types of memory impairment commonly experienced by individuals with dementia Definition: Individuals: someone requiring care or support. Dementia is a collection of symptoms including memory loss, personality change, and impaired intellectual functions resulting from disease or trauma to the brain. These changes are not part of normal aging and are severe enough to impact on individuals daily living, independence, and relationships. Individuals affected with dementia are bound to experience some difficulties which can impact on their perceptions, relationships, and their priorities inevitably changes over time. However, certain types of dementia can be treated or reversed if caught in time.