Protection of Vulnerable People with Dementia - Essay Example

? Protection of Vulnerable People (Adult Dementia) Protection of Vulnerable People (Adult Dementia) Introduction The factor of aging opens the door for numerous diseases, which harms human health directly or indirectly. One of the common diseases faced majorly by 5% of adults in their 60s is Dementia. Sadly, current researches have shown that not only aged people face the issues of Dementia but adults below 60’s are also suffering from this brain dysfunction. Dementia is a mental disorder in which a person loses his cognitive ability. Being a serious mental disability, adults suffering from dementia face many challenge in their routine life particularly learning disabilities. These adults are often abused at different intervals of life. This paper aims to highlight the abuses and challenges faced by adults with Dementia. Moreover, the will provide methods through which the vulnerability of these adults can be reduced. The paper will also discuss laws and policies that safeguards adults with dementia. Background One of the serious health problems faced by adults across the world, particularly the UK is Dementia. This is because of certain factors. One chief reason is that the aging of people in the UK is increasing. For this reason, adults that are diagnosed with Dementia in UK are increasing every year. The term ‘Dementia’ is originally a Latin word which means irrationality; ‘De’ means without and ‘mens’ means mind, thus it illustrates that without mind (Adams & Manthorpe, 2003). Previously unimpaired people can also undergo dementia. It is a progressive brain dysfunction in which the person faces long term decline in his mental capabilities. The chief cognitive regions of the brain affected by Dementia include memory, attention, language and problem solving which makes it difficult for the person to perform various tasks. If these dysfunctions stays or are present for more than 6 months, then it is in positive support for the diagnosis of dementia (Hughes, et al., 2006). Dementia is a growing disease in the UK. Many adults are facing challenges to continue their routine life normally and are abused at different points because of this mental disorder. Moreover, adults diagnosed with dementia also face some financial challenges that do not allow them to treat their sickness, thus increasing the problems. The government of United Kingdom has set some laws and policies for patients with mental sickness. This is to ensure that those diagnosed with mental dysfunctions are getting proper treatment and are able to continue their life. Moreover, adults who are diagnosed with dementia also face learning disability issues (Keady & Harris, 2013). Body Abuses / Challenges Faced by Adults with Dementia To name there are a number of abuses and challenges that are faced by adults with Dementia. These challenges vary from person to person. According to a report conducted by Kings’ College London and Alzheimer’s society stated that it is estimated that by 2025 as many as one million people will have dementia in UK. This is a serious issue which raises many other problems for the adults making them vulnerable towards life (Alzheimer's Society, 2013). People have not understood dementia completely, thus they are not able to offer this disease a comprehensive reaction. For this reason, dementia adds to the miseries of adults. Where on one hand these adults find it hard to cope-up with their daily tasks, the disease and other factors in a variety of ways often abuse them. It is already discussed above that adults with dementia face issues with memory; this illustrates that they have problems remembering their name, the day, week, and month; in short they are not able to recall anything properly. This can be explained with the help of few examples. Imagine, you wake up one morning and you are not able to recognize the person or his name that is lying next to you. This gets even worse when you look at your siblings and other family members and asks them who they are (Albanese, et al., 2007). The problem is not just with the faces or humans imagine going for a walk around the block and then suddenly getting lost. Such challenges not only create hurdles and issues for adults with dementia but also for people who are associated with these adults. Every time you meet or visit them you have to remind him / her who you are and what is your part in their life and similar things. This is a complex scenario in which dementia adults become vulnerable and feels miserable as there is nothing they can do about it (Adams & Manthorpe, 2003). To note there are many abuses which an adult may face if he has dementia. These include psychological abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, or sexual / physical abuse. The reason why adults with dementia are more susceptible to abuse is because of their vulnerability. However, the mistreatment and abuse of dementia patients is not accepted at all but it is manifested through various studies (Bourgeois & Hickey, 2011). It becomes difficult to identify when abuse is taking place with adults with dementia. It can cause harm to the patient as well. Reports have shown that in most of the cases, the abuser is usually a close relative of the adult with dementia (Mendez & Cummings, 2003). He or she can be a partner, a child / relative, a health or social nurse, a friend or a neighbor. The reason why adults with dementia are more vulnerable and easy targets for the abusers is because of their mental health. Even if the adult will inform anyone regarding the abuse, he or she will not be considered as a strong witness, and people will think that he is confused (Arkansas Adult Protective Services, 2013). In many cases, the abuses are not even remembered by dementia patients, hence making it easy for the abusers. The abuse can be in a formal setting or family setting, but in both cases, the person is directly or indirectly abused because of his / her vulnerability (Peterssonpeglerpegler, 2011). Even if the adults with dementia try to fight against this disorder they feel more vulnerable. This is because dementia is a progressive disease if it is not identified and treated in its initial stages then it becomes difficult to fight against it (Waite, 2009). The dysfunction worsens with time. Since the disease is caused by neurodegenerative disease, which affects the neurons of the brain, therefore it causes irreversible loss of functioning of the brain cells. Thus, dementia is quite complex for the adult plus it is also very difficult for the family (Mendez & Cummings, 2003). Since, families, friends and relatives face problems dealing with dementia adults, therefore, they sometime neglect or overlook the adult with dementia for their own relief. Since the task is very demanding and they find themselves not completely prepared for it. Families not only ignore the person but stops meeting him / her as they will have to answer various questions (Wylie, 2011). Abuse in a family setting can also be in the form of violence or aggressive attitude towards the patient (Bursack, 2009). This again contributes towards the worries and challenges of those with dementia. In this way their family and their relatives and friends abuse them in a deliberate manner. For this reason, 79.9% adults with dementia live in EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm) homes, 66.9% in nursing homes and 52.2% in residential care homes in the UK (Nussbaum, 1997). Financial Abuses Financial abuse is one of the most common abuses that happen in the UK and the world with dementia patients. It is basically the illegal or unauthorized theft or use of a person’s property, money or other valuables (Alzheimer's Society, 2013). This type of abuse is usually done by close family members such as son / daughter, or partner. They often justify their acts by claiming that it is their inheritance and they not doing anything wrong (Alzheimer's Society, 2013). Moreover, the financial abuse may also include forcing the adult with dementia to lend or give money or withholding his / her money or assets as a weakness of the adult to whom it belongs (Hughes, et al., 2006). The caretakers of those adults can also make wrong use of their credit or debit cards without asking for their permission. Adults with dementia are sometimes often charged double for services by caretakers or other persons (Caring Times, 2013). Inappropriate use of power of attorney also falls under financial abuse of dementia patients (Adams & Manthorpe, 2003). Just like any other abuse, financial abuse also goes unreported by the dementia patients, which give a freehand to the abusers. According to a report it was noted that 15% of adults with dementia had have been a victim of financial abuse. Moreover, 62% of caretakers also reported that cold callers have reached their patients while 70% told that telephone sales agents continuously targeted them. As a result of financial abuse, adults with dementia not only undergoes financial loses but it also exhausts and aggravates their families (Waite, 2009). Policies by the UK Government There are many acts and policies that have been presented by the UK government for the goodness and care of sick and unhealthy people. However, there are some laws that are only for the mental patients. These laws are present to ensure proper treatment of such patients and that they are not abused by the society or any of its elements. However, it sometimes becomes difficult for the government to take care of the patients but it has contributed towards their progress to a greater extent (Bourgeois & Hickey, 2011). The Mental Health Act 1983 and Guardianship According to the Mental Health Act 1983 and Guardianship, those individuals who are diagnosed with mental disorders are protected under this law in England and Wales. The mental disorder is used as a generalized term to highlight the disability of mind which also includes dementia. However, in Northern Ireland this law is not practiced as they have separate Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (Alzheimer's Society, 2013). There are as many as 100 sections of the act however the major ones that deal with the issue of Dementia are Section 2, Section 3 and Section 117. These sections give information and protection to those with dementia. The Guardianship part of the law also appoints people to take care of the sick individuals. These individuals not only take care of them but make serious decisions on their behalf. This is to ensure that no dementia patient is abused by frauds (NHS-UK, 2013). Moreover, there are government clinics in which doctors and consultants help dementia patients to manage their finances and get the treatment accordingly with or without government aid. The finances, property and assets of the patients are also secured and protected under the Court of Protection. There are other laws such as English Mental Capacity Act (MCA), which also works on the same structure (Waite, 2009). Learning Disability Learning Disability is a general term that deals with the difficulties that are faced by individuals in learning things because of known or unknown factors. One major factor is dementia. Since dementia is a mental disorder in which the person faces issues with memories and other functions therefore this also creates problems regarding his learning abilities (Burton, 2013). Learning abilities in the case of a dementia patient does not only relates to schooling and education as the person is an adult but other life activities which he or she faces on a daily basis such as how to meet someone, how to welcome guests, how to eat etc. Because of dementia a person usually forgets the basics (Keady, 2003). It is the foremost duty of the doctors, patients and nurses to look and take care of dementia patients as they need care and attention. It is not known that if he or she will be able to get rid of this disorder but proper care and treatment can contribute towards their progress. Learning disabilities nurses should also get proper training and education regarding dementia patients and how to treat them (Keady, 2003). They should remind them things that are related to routine life and can help overcome their learning disability (Dementia UK, 2013). Conclusion Dementia is a serious mental dysfunction, which is growing gradually in the British society. Despite of legislation laws and policies, cases are witnessed in which dementia patients are abused in a variety of ways. It is the foremost duty of the government, family, public, doctors and nurses to take proper and good care of dementia patients and provide them with necessary treatments. This will allow quick recovery of the patients or can at least avoid any abuse, which might be possible because of sickness. List of References Adams, T & Manthorpe, J 2003, Dementia Care: An Evidence Based Textbook, CRC Press, London. Alzheimer's Society 2013, Legal and Financial, viewed 28 December 2013, . Alzheimer's Society 2013, Mistreatment and abuse of people with dementia, viewed 27 December 2013, . Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Mental Health Act 1983 and guardianship, viewed 28 December 2013, . Albanese, E, Banerjee, S, Dhanasiri, S, Fernandez, J-L, Ferri, C & Knapp, M 2007, 'Dementia UK - The Full Report', Alzheimer's Society, London. Arkansas Adult Protective Services 2013, Abuse in Families Coping with Dementia, viewed 27 December 2013, . Bursack, CB 2009, Elders Who Abuse The Relatives Who Are Taking Care of Them, viewed 27 December 2013, . Burton, J 2013, 'It Ain’t Necessarily So – 8: Is it right to segregate people who have dementia?, Jornal of Dementia Care, vol 21, no. 5, p. 24. Bourgeois, MS & Hickey, E 2011, Dementia: From Diagnosis to Management - A Functional Approach, Taylor & Francis, New York. Cayton, H, Graham, N & Warner, J 2002, Dementia : Alzheimer's and other dementias, Class Publishers, London. Caring Times 2013, 'Ideal Care Homes puts up fees', Journal of Dementia Care, vol 15, no. 1, pp. 67-68. Dementia UK 2013, Admiral Nurses, viewed 27 December 2013, . Hughes, JC, Louw, SJ & Sabat, SR 2006, Dementia: Mind, Meaning, and the Person, Oxford University Press, London. Keady, J 2003, Community Mental Health Nursing and Dementia Care, McGraw-Hill International, Maidenhead. 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