Specific Needs of the Older Person
SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE OLDER PERSON
INTRODUCTION
Most people with dementia undergo behavioural changes during the course of the disease. They may become anxious or repeat the same question or activity over and over. The unpredictability of these changes can be stressful for carers. As the disease progresses, your loved one's behaviour may seem inappropriate, childlike or impulsive. Anticipating behavioural changes and understanding the causes can help you deal with them more effectively.
Each person’s experience of dementia is unique and no two people with dementia will experience exactly the same symptoms. Some people may want to know more about their dementia whilst others will not. However, learning more about dementia may help the person deal with the impact that the diagnosis has on his or her life and may enable that person plan for his/her future.
1. What is dementia? What are the physiological and psychological changes that occur for the older person with Dementia?
Dementia is usually of a progressive nature, in which there is deterioration in cognitive function i.e. the ability to process thought beyond what might be expected from normal ageing. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not affected. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation.
Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke, vascular dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Lewy body.
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It is overwhelming not only for the people who have it, but also for their carer’s and families. There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis and care.
INTRODUCTION
Most people with dementia undergo behavioural changes during the course of the disease. They may become anxious or repeat the same question or activity over and over. The unpredictability of these changes can be stressful for carers. As the disease progresses, your loved one's behaviour may seem inappropriate, childlike or impulsive. Anticipating behavioural changes and understanding the causes can help you deal with them more effectively.
Each person’s experience of dementia is unique and no two people with dementia will experience exactly the same symptoms. Some people may want to know more about their dementia whilst others will not. However, learning more about dementia may help the person deal with the impact that the diagnosis has on his or her life and may enable that person plan for his/her future.
1. What is dementia? What are the physiological and psychological changes that occur for the older person with Dementia?
Dementia is usually of a progressive nature, in which there is deterioration in cognitive function i.e. the ability to process thought beyond what might be expected from normal ageing. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not affected. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation.
Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke, vascular dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Lewy body.
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It is overwhelming not only for the people who have it, but also for their carer’s and families. There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis and care.