Elderly Care Flashcards
What is Parkinson’s disease and what area of the body does it affect
Progressive neurodegenerative disease
-affects basal ganglia, degeration of dopamine receptors in substantia nigra
Aetiology of Parkinson’s disease
- idiopathic
- cerebrovasular disease
- head trauma
- drug induced - valproate/phenothiazine
Cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease
- bradykinesia
- resting tremor
- rigidity
- postural instability
- gradual symp progression
- shuffling gait / struggle to iniate movement
- drooling
- mask like face
Early management of Parkinson’s
Drug therapy-Levadopa
Communication features of Parkinson’s
- masklike face
- hoarse voice
- unresponsive/blankness
- slow speech
- loss of non verbal cues
Non verbal patients’ signs of pain
BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE
- grimmacing
- aversion to touch
- pacing
- refusal to eat
- poor co-op
- isolation
- aggressive
What is Dementia
deterioration of cognitive function beyond that expected of normal ageing
What can dementia affect
- day-day memory
- concentration/organising
- visuospatial awareness
- orientation
- language-difficulty communicating
Types of dementia
- Alzheimers
- Fronto-temporal
- Vascular
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Parknson associated
- MS associated
- HIV associated
Alzheimer’s physiology and its distinct features
- reduction in cortex size
- plaque build up: beta-amyloid that build up in spaces between nerves
Distinct features:
-Aphasia, STML, Communication difficulties, mood swings, easily confused
Vascular dementia physiology and its distinct features
- reduction in blood flow to brain = small vessel disease (narrowing), stroke
- high BP/diabetes
Distinct features: Sudden memory loss, visuospatial difficulties, anxiety, delusions and seizures.
Dementia with Lewy bodies physiology and distinct features
-which particular patients can this be found
- deposition of abnormal proteins called lewy bodies in brain cells
- PARKINSON’S PATIENTS
Distinct features: STML, cognitive ability fluctuates, visuospatial issues, overlapping motor disorder, speech/swallow issues, delusions
Frontotemporal dementia physiology and its distinct features
-type of patient that this is usually found in
- frontal lobes affected: problem solving/planning and emotional control
- YOUNGER PATIENTS
Distinct features:
-STML NOT always present, uncontrollable repitition of words, mutism, personality changes, decline in social/pesonal conduct
Dementia friendly environment features
Reception desk visible from the entrance door
• Ceilings, floors and floor coverings should be acoustically absorbent to support
audible communication
• Colour and tone of walls should be distinctive from the flooring
• Colour and tone of furniture should be distinctive from the flooring
• Avoid non-essential signs
• Any signage should be at eye level with simple clear use of text and colour. Use
pictorial elements
• Ensure good levels of natural light to minimise artificial light
• Any staff only or locked rooms should be coloured the same as the walls to avoid
attention
Dementia friendly care home features
Walls, floor coverings, skirting boards and doors are all different colours –
provides good visual contrast to aid wayfinding
• Fix labels and images to drawers to help let people find what they need without
assistance
• A bedroom WC should be visible from the bed on sitting and when lying down
• Position personal pictures and items with personal relevance
• Radiators should be low temperature heating
• Furniture traditional and domestic
