Review Question: Outline the Psychosocial Issues Associated with Dementia
Outline the psychosocial issues associated with Dementia
Outline the psychosocial issues associated with Dementia Naturally, ageing is associated with ‘slowing down’, including changes in memory and cognitive functioning caused by physical changes in the central nervous system and brain structure. It has been established that good health behaviours, mental exercises and targeted treatment of some organic brain syndromes can help older adults maintain their good cognitive health (Hoffnung et al., 2010). However, some degenerative brain diseases can cause dementia, particularly in older people, and with international shift towards an older population (Botsford, Clarke & Gibb, 2011), it is predicted that by 2040 there will be over 80 million people having some form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause (“Predicting Alzheimer’s”, 2008; Hoffnung et al., 2010). Although dementia mostly diagnosed in those over 65 years of age, younger people also get diagnosed with this degenerative condition, commonly described as ‘younger onset dementia’ (“Exploring the Needs of Younger People with Dementia in Australia”, 2007). Symptoms of dementia include impaired orientation, intellect, memory and judgement, and as sufferers experience confusion, delusions, changes in behaviour and personality, they lose independence and require more and more care and controlled environments to keep them safe (Hoffnung et al., 2010). While the loss of independence and gradual cognitive loss is obviously causing anguish to the patient, dementia also leads to profound changes for those around them (Botsford et al., 2011). Burden of providing care for an aged person, for example, would often be carried by the spouse or by adult children (Hoffnung et al., 2010). Providing care involves physical and emotional effort, and sometimes significant financial commitment, as the paid employment may have to be forgone by the caregiver. Perhaps spouses experience the most
Outline the psychosocial issues associated with Dementia Naturally, ageing is associated with ‘slowing down’, including changes in memory and cognitive functioning caused by physical changes in the central nervous system and brain structure. It has been established that good health behaviours, mental exercises and targeted treatment of some organic brain syndromes can help older adults maintain their good cognitive health (Hoffnung et al., 2010). However, some degenerative brain diseases can cause dementia, particularly in older people, and with international shift towards an older population (Botsford, Clarke & Gibb, 2011), it is predicted that by 2040 there will be over 80 million people having some form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause (“Predicting Alzheimer’s”, 2008; Hoffnung et al., 2010). Although dementia mostly diagnosed in those over 65 years of age, younger people also get diagnosed with this degenerative condition, commonly described as ‘younger onset dementia’ (“Exploring the Needs of Younger People with Dementia in Australia”, 2007). Symptoms of dementia include impaired orientation, intellect, memory and judgement, and as sufferers experience confusion, delusions, changes in behaviour and personality, they lose independence and require more and more care and controlled environments to keep them safe (Hoffnung et al., 2010). While the loss of independence and gradual cognitive loss is obviously causing anguish to the patient, dementia also leads to profound changes for those around them (Botsford et al., 2011). Burden of providing care for an aged person, for example, would often be carried by the spouse or by adult children (Hoffnung et al., 2010). Providing care involves physical and emotional effort, and sometimes significant financial commitment, as the paid employment may have to be forgone by the caregiver. Perhaps spouses experience the most
References: Botsford, J., Clarke, C. L., & Gibb, C. E. (2012). Dementia and relationships: Experiences of partners in minority ethnic communities. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(10), 2207-2217. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05905.x Hoffnung, M., Hoffnung, R., Seifert, K., Burton Smith, R., Hine, A., Ward, L., Quinn, A. (2010). Lifespan development (1st Australasian ed.). Milton: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd Schulz, R., Belle, S. H., Czaja, S. J., McGinnis, K. A., Stevens, A., & Zhang, S. (2004). Long-term care placement of dementia patients and caregiver health and well-being. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 292(8), 961-967. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.8.961 Department of Health and Ageing. (2007). Exploring the Needs of Younger People with Dementia in Australia. Scullin: Alzheimer’s Australia. Catalyst. (ABC). (2008). Predicting Alzheimer’s [video]. Available from http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2364899.htm Discussion Questions 1. In the context of Aboriginal cultural background, what additional factors may have to be taken into account when addressing the issues with dementia in Indigenous Australians? 2. How the ‘brain reserve’ is instrumental in reducing the likelihood of developing dementia? 3. Discuss the possible forms and causes of dementia, rather than Alzheimer’s disease, for the ‘younger onset dementia’.