Development of a System for the Treatment of Dementia - Essay Example

? Topic of the Dementia is a manifestation of symptoms reflective of disorders affecting thebrain. Those that have suffered dementia are unable to think accurately and dysfunctions in their supposed normal daily activities (Alzheimers.org, 2013a). Their behaviours and personalities are erratic due to their inability to control their emotions. Due to physiological changes in their senses, they may be hallucinating or are able to see and hear things that are not there (Alzheimers.org, 2013a). This paper aims to critically reflect about the development of a system designed to safeguard and promote ethically the well-being of people with dementia within a residential care (US National Library of Medicine, 2012, p. 1). It will also look at values and government legislations as ethical basis for healthcare. People with dementia are losing their memory, especially those that are aging (US National Library of Medicine, 2012, p. 1). The dysfunction in their brain has serious effect to their memory and their ability to communicate. Though this illness is common among elderly, but this is not normal for all of those that are aging (US National Library of Medicine, 2012, p. 1). Whitehouse, Price, Struble, Clark, Coyle, and Delon (1982) explained memory loss of patient with dementia and Alzheimer based on evidences indicating that the nucleus basalis of Meynert, a distinct population of basal forebrain neurons, is the source of cholinergic innervation of the cerebral cortex (pp. 1237-1239). Post-mortem research illustrated the profound reduction in the presynaptic markers for cholinergic neurons in the cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (Whitehouse et al., 1982, pp. 1237-1239). Research further bared that memory loss is associated to that neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert which undergo a profound and selective degeneration at more than 75% in these patients and provide a pathological substrate of the cholinergic deficiency in their brains (Whitehouse et al., 1982, pp. 1237-1239). Demonstration of selective degeneration of such neurons represents the first documentation of a loss of a transmitter-specific neuronal population in a major disorder of higher cortical function and, as such, points to a critical subcortical lesion in Alzheimer's patients (Whitehouse et al., 1982, pp. 1237-1239). Recent analysis of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), involving representative sample of Health and Retirement Study (HRS), bared that health care for people with dementia have increasing emotional and physical demands (Vaughn, 2013, p. 1). Thus, add to the financial burden for care. It also inspires the National Health Institute to find effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, too (Vaughn, 2013, p. 1). Through NAPA, health expert established and enforced National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease the institution also capitalized on research and development of BRAIN initiative, with the support of the president, to generate approaches to broaden our understanding on the neurological disorders, inclusive of neurological disorders and Alzheimer (Vaughn, 2013, p. 1). Dementia is an illness that could be genetically inherited by offspring from their elders or parents. Alzheimer is considered as the worst form of dementia which may appear at 65 years of age or further (Alzheimers.org, 2013b, p. 1). Hence, health practitioners call this a familial disease. Vascular and fronto-temporal dementias are other forms of dementia (Alzheimers.org, 2013b, p. 1). The first can be developed by high cholesterol levels in their bodies. Other milder forms of dementia which can be detected at an earlier age are dementia with Lewy bodies, Down’s syndrome, and Huntington’s disease (Alzheimers.org, 2013b, p. 1) Medical experts admitted difficulty in determining the cost of dementia care, both in formal and informal setting, because majority of those who suffered in this illness has also multiple medical condition that include stroke, depression, and other complications associated with aging. Their experimental estimates reflected that the cost for dementia care may amount to expenditures for illnesses like cancer and heart disease. However, effective and strategic medication and intervention for dementia is yet to be discovered. Support studies for aging people are however continued for the well-being of the people. At such context, medication and care for persons with dementia are done at home by a number of families (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Although medical diagnoses remained basic in knowing that a person has dementia, but if caring is done within the home confines, the family members must exercise compassion and understanding about the patient’s needs and situation (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). While some prescribed medicines are ought to be followed too, but the carer should bear greater tolerance on the patient’s behaviour and the changing responses of the patient (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Care with compassion remained a significant aspect of managing patient’s health, especially with patient’s that are aging with memory loss. Like others, they became part of the vulnerable sectors needing constant reassurance about their self-worth and their identities (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Carers must be goal-oriented in serving patient with dementia; exercise prudence and sensitivity in washing or bathing them; assisting them preserve patient’s identity by dressing them appropriately; and ensure that the food served and given to them are healthy or nutritious. (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1) If health carers and providers for the patient are family members themselves, they should be made aware that their relation with the patient may progress with the feelings of grief and bereavement as the illness worsens (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Carer may become confused to the changing behaviour of the patient, which may cause further stress and espouse that feeling of helplessness (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Recognize that this part of the reality of persons with dementia (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2013, p. 1). Recognize too that dementia brings with it the unusual behaviour of aggressiveness, hallucinations, impatient, restless, fidgeting, screaming, sudden outburst of inhibition, anxious, suspicious, and wanting to be at home or to at least feel that he or she is at home (Alzheimers.org, 2013c, p. 1). Notwithstanding these behavioural changes, practitioners must conduct their duties sensibly with beneficence, respect, sense of justice, and effectively (Counsel and Care, 2002, p. 1). In all of the odds present in caring for persons with dementia, carer must deal with them with restraint, dignity, truth, competence, confidentiality, and care of their health (Counsel and Care, 2002, p. 1). Restraint, for therapeutic ends, must be exercised to prevent harm and to deal patient proportionate to the likelihood and seriousness of harm (Counsel and Care, 2002, p. 1). Hence, always empathize and situate yourself objectively whilst reassuring patient well (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2013, p. 1). Maintaining open communication with the rest of family members and with the patient will also ease the relation out and will also gain more support from them (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2013, p. 1). When patient’s aggressiveness and restlessness is high, you can distract their attention by stroking, massaging, playing his favourite music, or exposing him to verdant parks or nature (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2013, p. 1). It is also important that they are able to discuss the financial plan of managing patient’s medication and the need for health counselling. Legal measures should be taken seriously too, to ease concerns on medical, financial and other significant concerns pertaining to properties and dispositions (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2013, p. 1). This is important because the loss of memory will affect all of these important matters. In all of these, carer must maintain the values of compassion, empathy and sustain the fiduciary relation with patient and his/her family. In the absence of accurate cure for dementia, these are the best way for carers to do. The values upheld in this discussion and the need to uphold sense of fairness in making decisions, on situation present with persons with dementia, are part of the oath of the medical practitioners and of health carers who are serving patients at the hospital or at home. References Alzheimers.org (2013a). Leading the fight against dementia, Alzheimer’s Society, p. 1, Retrieved: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/405 Alzheimers.org (2013b). Everyday care, Alzheimer’s Society, p. 1. http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200354 Alzheimers.org (2013c), Relationships, Alzheimer’s Society, p. 1, http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200355 Alzheimers.org (2013d), Unusual behaviour, Alzheimer’s Society, p. 1, http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200357 Counsel and Care, (2002). Showing restraint: challenging the use of restraint in care homes, UK: London, p. 1. Family Caregiver Alliance (2013), Alzheimer’s disease and Caregiving, CA: Family Caregiver Alliance, p. 1 Retrieved: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=567 US National Library of Medicine (2012), Dementia, MedlinePlus, US: National Institute of Medicines, p. 1. Retrieved: http://apps2.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/contact/index.cfm?lang=en&from=http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dementia.html Vaughn, P. (2013). NIH-supported study finds US dementia care costs as high as $215 billion in 2010, NIH News, US Department of Health and Human Services, p. 1, Retrieved: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2013/nia-03.htm Whitehouse, P.J..; Price, D.L..; Struble, R.G.; Clark, A.W.; Coyle, J.T.; and Delon, M.R. (1982), Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia: loss of neurons in the basal forebrain, Science, Vol. 215 no. 4537, pp. 1237-1239. Read More