Dementia Care

Question 1

What is dementia?

Answer 1

A progressive disease with no cure

More than memory loss, decrease in communication and ability to focus, loss of judgement, changes to personality, etc.

Question 2

What is the most common form of dementia?

Answer 2

Alzheimer disease.

65-70% of most dementias are Alzheimer.

Question 3

True or false?

You will not get a 100% confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer until an autopsy is performed?

Answer 3

TRUE

You will see plaques and tangles within the brain that will not show up on scans.

Question 4

When does one with dementia become admitted into long term care?

Answer 4

Usually admitted only when the person becomes incontinent.

Decline is sever enough that it interferes with a persons ability to live independently. Eventually become completely dependant 24/7.

Question 5

How do we approach care of a dementia patient?

Answer 5

Palliative care - pain relief, comfort care

Patient/resident centred - focus on needs of person living with dementia and honour them and their values.

Question 6

Is there a cure?

Answer 6

No, they have relocated funds from finding a cure of reverse damage done, to looking at a way to decrease the decline of a person.

To stop the progression of it VS curing what has been done.

Question 7

What are some challenging behaviours with caring for patients with dementia?

Answer 7

Wandering - need to move and at risk of being lost
Repeating same question/words/difficulty expressing - forget answers, can’t find the right words
Agitation - may have outburst
Apathy - lack of interest, doesn’t understand what is happening

Question 8

What is sundowning?

Answer 8

Collection of symptoms triggered by being tired.
Person becomes confused, agitated, anxious, and restless usually in late afternoon, early evening.
May also become aggressive, experience delusions or hallucinations.

Question 9

Non-Pharmacological Strategies to help with dementia

Answer 9

Attend to needs - food, pain, toileting
Meet the person where they are at
focus on strenghts/positives - what is the resident still able to do and enjoy
maintain routine - provide simple cues
Redirect - distract rather than argue
Engage in activities regardless of abilities
what gives them purpose?

Question 10

True or false?

Your voice does not affect the patient.

Answer 10

FALSE
Your tone of voice can make a difference, remain calm and be patient!
Use a gentle approach that honours the individual.