Research Paper On Dementia

Dementia is a complex disease that’s made up of many parts. There isn’t just one form of dementia, rather there are multiple different forms of dementia, each having their own set of symptoms that can be distinguished from other forms of dementia. Nonetheless, the umbrella term for dementia is an “impairment of thought and behavior that disrupt everyday life” (McCrory, PP, Ch. 17, Slide 18). Symptoms affecting dementia as a whole are the following: memory, thinking, and social abilities (McCrory, PP, Ch. 17, Slide 19). Nonetheless, it’s important to understand that a little memory loss is normal in old age. Therefore, just because you may know someone that has some memory loss doesn’t mean that they suffer from dementia. One of the clear-cut

Some psychological changes are the following: personality changes, inability to reason, inappropriate behavior, paranoia, agitation, and/or hallucinations (McCrory, PP, Ch. 17, Slide 28). Sometimes, these may look like symptoms of schizophrenia, due to the fact that they may hallucinate, have inappropriate behavior that they may know is wrong, be paranoid of everything and everyone, and be constantly agitated and on edge. Nonetheless, just because these symptoms are present doesn’t mean that it’s schizophrenia. Therefore, it’s important when diagnosing someone with dementia that you take a history of psychological conditions (and physical conditions) to rule out everything possible. These psychological changes can take a toll not only on that individual, but also on family members and other individuals close to them. It may be difficult for a loved one to watch another individual go through stages in which they can’t remember anything, or don’t recognize what they did (or know they did what they did). At the same time, cognitive challenges also occur such as: memory loss, difficulty communication/finding words, complex tasks, planning/organizing, coordination/motor functions, and disorientation (McCrory, PP, Ch. 17, Slide 29). Just like the psychological changes, these cognitive changes can be hard on both that individual and the family. It’s extremely frustrating to not be able to find the words you want to

Some, if not all, of these effects can be dangerous. Not being able to keep track of your medicine can be detrimental and potentially dangerous. You could not take your medicine or take it twice in one day, which can lead to dangerous physical effects. Safety issues is of huge concern due to the fact that they may be walking somewhere and then suddenly not know where they are or remember what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go. Sometimes, individuals may wander out of their house and end up in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where they are. This can lead them to become scared. Therefore, these daily effects are just as dangerous as the psychological and cognitive effects that we see in individuals with dementia. These effects alone can lead to the individual being placed in a nursing home, due to the fact that they need 24/7 care that families just can’t give to them due to work and other commitments (especially if they have children). Although this can be difficult for many to bare, it’s sometimes the best option for the individual with