Dementia- A health risk for older adults

This article discusses the health risk of dementia for older adults and nursing interventions to improve quality of life and increase overall survival of the affected people. The target audience is nursing professionals who are employed in community care settings and are entitled with the responsibility of providing care to dementia patients. The article also addresses the implications of nursing care and the need to maintain mental and physical health. The subject is healthcare and the document type is an essay.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Dementia- A health risk for older adults
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction- The WHO has recognised dementia as a matter of public health concern
and the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025 has also been
endorsed by the World Health Assembly for addressing the issue of dementia with utmost
priority. It has been estimated by the WHO that dementia presently affects more than 50
million individuals in a global basis and there are as much as 10 million new cases of patients
being diagnosed with the disorder every year (WHO, 2019). The total number of persons
suffering from dementia is expected to increase to roughly 82 million and 152 million by the
year 2030 and 2050, respectively. This group of brain disease results in a progressive
deterioration in the capability of older adults to remember and think, thus creating an impact
on their daily life.
Selection of health risk- This disorder has been identified as a major health risk since
it was the second major cause of death in the year 2017 in Australia. Furthermore, 376,000
Australians are expected to be diagnosed with this condition in the present year, with nearly
71% of dementia related hospitalisations being of great clinical complexity (AIHW, 2018).
The symptoms of dementia fluctuate across different stages of the disorder and the most
commonly affected domains are visual-spatial, language, memory, problem solving, and
attention. Though the initial stages of dementia are characterised by mild cognitive
impairment, as the disorder progresses, the rate of decline in cognitive functioning worsens
and the affected people are no longer to do household chores or activities of daily living
(ADL) (Werezak & Stewart, 2016). In addition, if not provided necessary care, they are also
at a risk of choking, gaining weight, developing pressure ulcer, or suffering from insomnia
(Grenier, Lloyd & Phillipson, 2017). The key to living well among people affected with
dementia is to maintain their mental and physical health. It has been found that the
neurological illness creates a dramatic impact on the patients, potentially decreasing their

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ability to communicate and think, thus affecting their ability to lead a healthy life. This calls
for the need of addressing this health risk.
Target audience- The poster has been prepared for informing nursing professionals
who are employed in community care settings and are entitled with the responsibility of
providing care to dementia patients. The rationale behind this audience selection is that while
responding to the multifaceted combination of polypharmacy and comorbidity, specifically in
community care setting that is not familiar to the patient, delivering care to dementia patient
is often considered challenging for the nursing staff. According to Macaden (2016) while the
purpose of nursing treatment is to enhance health outcomes and wellbeing, while aiming for
early discharge of the dementia patients, the caregiving process often results in stress and
fatigue among the professionals. Hence, the poster will help them to gain a sound
understanding of the interventions that they are expected to deliver, in order to ensure easy
recuperation of the patient, thus increasing their job satisfaction and reducing work-related
stress.
Implications of nursing care- Nurses have a characteristic compulsion to act in the
form of patient advocates, with the sole intention for informing the society to develop habits
that delay the onset and progress of dementia. Thus, nurses have a central role in upholding
health and preventing disease, by promoting client education. The anticipated global
prevalence of dementia also intensifies the demand for nursing professionals to demonstrate
their proficiency in delivering patient-centred care in a manner that improves quality of life
and endorses wellbeing (McKeown, Ryan, Ingleton & Clarke, 2015). Owing to the impact of
dementia on deteriorated physical performance, and the ability of patients to perform their
daily activity, nurses are responsible for cultivating a therapeutic association, while educating
the patients to recognise representative exercise goals and inspire involvement in regular

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physical activity since it will not only enhance cognitive functioning but will also allow the
patients to socialise and reduce their seclusion.
According to Evans, Harrison-Dening and Read (2018) dementia patients frequently
experience feelings of separation as the disorder deteriorates recollection, attentiveness and
mental ability. Hence, it the poster will help nurses understand the need to provide around-
the-clock care, while developing strong therapeutic association that will eventually contribute
to mental stimulation, which engenders feelings of inclusion. Furthermore, incorporation of
several stimulation activities in care process such as, word games, puzzles and baking will
also bring about positive wellness outcomes and will also increase sense of purpose amid the
patients (Griffiths, Bridges, Sheldon & Thompson, 2015). According to Takeuchi et al.
(2017) heightened cognitive functioning over incessant stimulation is essential for dementia
patients to uphold their individuality during the course of their dementia journey.
The poster will also help nurses to maximise functionality and independence of their
clients, thus underwriting optimal patient satisfaction. It will also help nurses in advocating
patient autonomy and permitting them to partake in self-care, thus providing relief to the
friends and family of the dementia patients (Bentwich, Dickman & Oberman, 2018). Though
the nurses will not be able to address the environmental and governmental factors that trigger
the onset of dementia among older adults, they will be able to prevent the manifestation of
discriminating attitudes and behaviour towards the patients. In addition, they will help family
members understand that they have a moral responsibility to care for their loved ones,
regardless of the health condition (Lea, Doherty, Page, Hill & Robinson, 2018). The poster
will help the family members prepare themselves regarding the support and respite that they
can offer to dementia patients. Furthermore, the social factor of isolation will be addressed by
this poster since it will allow nursing professionals to educate caregivers and families about

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different practices that can make the patients feel that they are being cared for (Behrman,
Wilkinson, Lloyd & Vincent, 2016).
Conclusion- To conclude, dementia is not a part of the normal ageing process and it
results in progressive decline in mental and functional abilities, thus creating a negative
impact on the life of the patients. Therefore, taking into consideration the fact that there is no
definite cure for dementia, there is a need to implement nursing interventions that can
improve the quality of life and increase overall survival of the affected people. People
diagnosed with late stage dementia generally turn increasingly inward and manifest the need
of assistance for personal care and grooming. They require to be monitored for the entire day
in order to prevent any accident or injury that can be life-threatening. Hence, the poster will
help nursing professionals to deliver personalised treatment to dementia patients, eventually
enhancing their health outcomes and quality of life.

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