Dementia Needs, Types and Treatments

Dementia Needs, Types and TreatmentsSpecific needs of the older personINTRODUCTIONMAIN clayDementia is a term used to describe symptoms such as loss of memory, language, motor skills, judgment and other intellectual functions caused by permanent disparage or death of the headings nerve cells. (Alzheimers foundation of America, 2014)Most dementias are reversible. Reversible dementias are caused by nutritional deficiencies or infection or from a bleed on the brain or the side effect of a medication the symptoms of these dementias deal be stopped or reversed as considerable as the underlying causes can be treated.Dementia consists of 3 coiffesEarly stage (difficulty concentrating, poor orientation, decreased memory, withdrawal from friends and family, poor socializing skills and denial of their symptoms)This stage usually lasts up to two years.Mid stage (major memory loss, node needs swear out carrying out their activities of daily living (ADLS), they can get govern of their b owels or bladder, ability to speak declines, agitation occurs, compulsions or anxiety)This stage lasts up to two and a half years.Late stage (people in this stage lose the ability to communicate or speak, they need assistance with nearly all their ADLS, they often lose the ability to walk)This stage usually lasts up to two and a half years.There are many types of dementia but I have listed the four major ones below and have given the physiological and mental changes that occur for the older person with these dementias.Type of DementiaPhysiologicalPsychologicalClients needsAlzheimersProblems with speaking.Decreased judgement.Difficulty solving problems or puzzles.Disorientation in familiar surroundings.Depression.Psychosis.Agitation.Sleep disorder.Resistance to care.Memory loss.Assess and reverse agitation factors.Memory therapy.Language therapy.VascularDifficulty finding the remediate words.Confusion and disorientation.Aggressiveness.Memory loss.Depression.Slowness of taught.Hallu cinations.Memory therapy.Speech therapy.Lewy personateConfusion followed by alertness.Tremors.Shuffling step.Rigidity.Fainting-loss of consciousness.Hallucinations in touch and feelings.Visual hallucinations.Sleep disorder.Aggression.Depression.Speech therapy. corporal therapy which includes gait training.Front temporalLanguage comprehension declines.Tongue tie occurs.Ability to read or write is impaired.Lack of co-ordination.Shaking.Balance problems.Eye twitching. sinew spasms and rigidity.Inability to relate to people.Personality changes.Speech therapy.As a carer it is very important to understand the Lewy bole dementia indisposition and its symptoms so that the appropriate treatments can be implemented. The carer should also act as an advocate to ensure the client with dementiaDue to word limitations I will only be discussing Lewy tree trunk dementia in detail below.LEWY BODY DEMENTIAIn the early 1900s scientist FREIDERICK H. LEWY discovered that the brains activities was di srupted by deposits of abnormal protein while he was researching Parkinsons disease. The Lewy body proteins were found in the brain stem where they kill off the neurotransmitter Dopamine ca victimisation symptoms similar to Parkinsons symptoms. In Lewy body dementia other areas of the brain are affected by these proteins and that is what creates the difference between both Parkinsons and Lewy body dementia. When the protein attacks the brain chemical acetylcholine it causes the client to suffer disruption in their thinking, demeanour and perception. Lewy body dementia can be its own disease or it could act in conjunction with brain changes in Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease. This is why Lewy body disease can be miss diagnosed and the client ends up been told they have Parkinsons disease instead. When diagnosing Lewy body dementia an undergo member of the multidisciplinary team should carry out a diagnostic evaluation of the client. This evaluation should include both phy sical and neurological examinations. The client should also be examined on their language skills, memory skills and their functioning skills. The clients family should also be interviewed as they might have noticed changes in the client which would be helpful in their diagnosis. The client should also undergo a MRI or CT scan to determine what areas of the brain are affected. Blood tests whitethorn also help in the clients clinical diagnosis. Lewy body dementia can only be conclusively diagnosed when the client has passed, through a post-mortem autopsy. Unfortunately there is no known cure for Lewy body dementia and treatment only relieves symptoms. People live up to seven years with the disease but some have lived up to twenty years with the disease.Medication is not always the best option for clients with Lewy body because what works with one client might not work for another client. It is also important to know that clients with Lewy body are extremely sensitive and may react neg atively to medication. If using medication then there are different medications for the different symptoms.Cognitive symptomsCholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, and Raza dyne) are used as they are drugs that increase the level of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a chemical which helps in memory and learning functions. These were developed to treat Alzheimers clients but it has been discovered they work better on Lewy body clients.Movement symptomsLevodopa is a drug which is also used on Parkinsons clients. This medication is only used if the symptoms are severe.Visual hallucinationsAntipsychotic medication (haloperidol) which are tranquillizers that block the dopamine receptors in the brain are used but only if the hallucinations are upsetting or disruptive as the side effects can be severe.Rem sleep behaviour disorderMelatonin or clonazepam medication can be used and have been proven to be very effective.50% of clients with lewy body dementia who are treated wit h any antipsychotic medication may experience severe neuroleptic sensitivity, such as worsening cognition, heavy sedation, increase or possibly irreversible parkinsonism, or symptoms resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome which can be fatal. (Lewy body dementia association, 2014)Non-medical treatmentsSpeech therapyThis may help the client with their give tongue to volume. It is also helpful in clients who have swallowing difficulties and may improve their facial muscular strength.Physical therapyThis includes strengthening, flexibility and cardiovascular exercises as well as gait training.Occupational therapyThis may help the client in promoting his independence and maintain their skills.Individual and family therapyThis can be useful in managing worked up and behavioural symptoms and help with any concerns the family might have for the future.Support groupsThese are helpful for the client and the carers as they can help in day to day frustrations and provide emotional support f or all.