Approaches to Treat Patients with Dementia

This article discusses the key approaches used by healthcare professionals to treat patients with dementia. It explores the challenges faced by healthcare practitioners and provides effective recommendations for improving health conditions and well-being. The article also includes a literature review on the topic.

DEMENTIA

Contents
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
Topic............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background..................................................................................................................................1
Theories.......................................................................................................................................2
Topic statement............................................................................................................................2
Research questions.......................................................................................................................2
Aims and objectives.....................................................................................................................2
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................6
Theme 1: Knowing about Dementia............................................................................................6
Theme 2: key interventions and approaches used by the health care management to treat the
patients who has dementia...........................................................................................................6
Theme 3: challenges which have been faced by heath care practitioners while treating people
who have dementia......................................................................................................................7
Theme 4: effective recommendation to improve the health conditions and well- being to treat
the patients who has dementia.....................................................................................................8
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................15

TITLE
Topic
“To determine the key approaches used by the health care management to treat the patients who
has dementia.”
INTRODUCTION
Dementia is referred to as a disease which is linked with the loss of memory, language, or
affecting the other thinking capabilities of individual person. In this disease brain cell of a person
is being damaged and they lose the ability to think and take decisions on their behalf. Dementia
can be mainly seen in older aged people basically ranging from 55 years to 75 years.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is been caused by abnormal
changes in brain. These changes basically includes decline in thinking skills basically known as
cognitive skills. In this individual is unable to perform their daily life functions and independent
functions. This disease also laid negative impact on behavior and relationship. It has been
analyzed that 60-80% of vascular dementia occurs because of microscopic bleeding and blood
vessel blockage in the brain. It can lower down the health outcome of an individual. Present
report will lay emphasis on the approaches that is useful for providing care management to treat
patients with Dementia. It will also lay emphasis on reviewing of the literature on the topic
which is selected. Report will also lay focus on the research methods which is being used to
collect better data related to research topic.
Background
Dementia is not a single disease, it is a wide term used for different diseases. There are
various signs and symptoms which can be seen in the patients who are suffering from Dementia.
It includes short term memory loss, ability to understand what other person is trying to say,
inability to perform daily functions and also behavioural changes. This disease is been caused by
damaged brain cells. When the brain cells are not performed well then it can affect behaviour,
thoughts and feelings of an individual. In Alzheimer’s disease, the certain type of protein inside
and outside the brain cells, makes it difficult for brain to remain healthy. Various strategies are
adopted by social care workers like providing patients with care at home in order to enhance
health outcome of an individual.
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Theories
Cognitive and affective theory of mind in Dementia can be used in order to understand the
problems that has been faced by patients. In this theory social care worker can know about the
thoughts and feelings of patients by making them comfortable. A multi-component intervention
called PrAISED so that better Dementia appropriate final interventions and dual task exercises
can be used in order to enhance health outcome of patients. It is really important that Dementia is
been diagnosed early in order to overcome the future issues.
Topic statement
The topic statement includes the key approaches used by the health care management to
treat the patients who has dementia. In this the health care professionals will ensure that
Dementia is been diagnosed at early stage so that future issues are not been faced. There are
various risks that is been faced by patients with Dementia and also there are several challenges
which is being faced by [physicians while treating patients who act vulnerable and do not
remember anything.
Research questions
 What do you understand by the term dementia?
 What are the key interventions and approaches used by the health care management to
treat the patients who has dementia?
 What are the challenges which have been faced by heath care
practitioners while treating people who have dementia?
 What are effective recommendation to improve the health conditions
and well- being to treat the patients who has dementia?
Aims and objectives
Aim
“To determine the key approaches used by the health care management to treat the patients
who has dementia.”
Objectives
 To develop an understanding on dementia.
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 To determine the key interventions and approaches used by the health care management
to treat the patients who has dementia.
 To determine the challenges which have been faced by heath care
practitioners while treating people who has dementia.
 To provide effective recommendation to improve the health
conditions and well- being to treat the patients who has dementia.
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METHODOLOGY
Searching the literature: For literature search various data bases was been used by the
researcher. In this they have made use of PUBMED, CINAHL. It has also been analysed that
Google scholar is also been used for searching. Various key terms were also been used in order
to search for literature. It is been mentioned below:
1. Treating patients with Dementia
AND
2. Interventions used to treat patients with dementia
Search was also been done for Medical OR non pharmaceutical interventions for treating patients
with dementia. Only relevant articles from authentic sites was been selected for the study. It was
really effective to search for the key words by making use of high quality articles. It has also
been analyzed that articles which were been critically analyzed was been used in the study. This
has made the research more authentic and relevant.
Inclusive criteria: This was been used in order to make sure that data collected was
accurate. In this researcher has ensured that articles which are published in English language was
only been used. No articles older were been used in the study. Relevant data bases search was
been done. Moreover the articles from UK, USA and Australia were been included in it.
Exclusion criteria: No articles that was been published in other language than English was
been used. Information from irrelevant sites was not included. The article which was 15-20 years
older was not taken in the study (Orkaby and et.al., 2017). It has also been analysed that articles
other than UK, USA and Australia was not been used in the study.
Discussion of critical analysis: In this the articles that were been selected was from
relevant data basis and also was critically analyzed. It has been evaluated that the articles which
were been selected for study has adequate sample size and also in some of the articles RCT was
been used and in some experimental design was used. Most of the articles were also based on
qualitative study.
Ethics chapter: The articles which were been selected for the study was collected by
following ethical code of conduct. Honesty and integrity was been mentioned while collecting
the data. It has also been analyzed that permission from participants was taken to include them in
study. In this the researcher has also made sure to avoid the ethical issues and all the things are
been properly cited.
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Limitations of literature: There were also various limitations to literature review like
there was limited time to access the relevant information. Also there were limitations of
resources such as internet. It was hard to find the specific keys words so that better articles can
be searched. There were also limitations related to time constraints.
Data collection: It means gathering and analyzing of data. It has been analysed for this
there is basically two methods one is primary and other one is secondary. In the first one raw
data is used. It is most authentic and reliable source of information. This type of data is basically
been used to get specific information. Sample size taken in primary data collection method is
smaller. It consumes lots of time in collecting primary data and also the cost is really high in the
collection of this type of data. On the other hand secondary data is basically already published
one. In this researcher can make use of the information which has already been published. This
type of study can be used by the researcher when size of research is high. It can also assist
researcher in finding solutions of the research problems. For the present research primary method
of data collection was used in order to have more specific results.
Sampling: In this simple random sampling was been used to select the participants who
will be involved in study. This was been done in order to remove the biasness and also to make
the research project better. In this selection of participants did not have any kind of
discrimination and they were been selected randomly. 20 health care professionals were been
included in the study so that end results can be gained.
Data analysis; in this approach thematic analysis was been used. This is because of as the
research is qualitative in nature. It has also been analysed that thematic analysis will be useful in
evaluating the key attributes which is related to research. This has assisted the scholar in getting
the end results and also getting answers for the research questions which was been framed by
them.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: Knowing about Dementia
Dementia is not a single disease, it is a wide term used for different diseases. As stated by
Arvanitakis, Shah and Bennett, (2019) Dementia basically means that an individual is suffering
problems related to remembering things and also to make their own decisions. In this disease the
brain cells are been affected, so it affects the behaviour and feelings of an individual. Mostly
dementia is seen in the people of older age. There are so many disease and disorders which can
affect the mental functions. Most of the disease in dementia is incurable. Some people also
experience the impaired cognitive functions such as depression. It has been analysed that
although dementia is been caused to older people but there are also younger people who suffers
from dementia. It has been analysed that there are approx 7, 00, 000 people in United Kingdom
who are been suffering from dementia and out of which 15000 are younger in age. Various
interventions can also be used by health care professional in order to treat patients with
Dementia. Risk of having dementia increases by the age. As per the view of McKeith and et.al.,
(2017) Dementia can have impact on each individual differently. Patient’s physical health and
well-being can also affect in this type of disease. There are various issues which can be faced by
patients suffering from dementia. It includes having confused thought process, trouble in
remaining things, confusion in understanding other people language, they also cannot function
properly their daily task. They can also have perceptual problems. It has also been analysed that
patients with dementia are kept in isolation and they might will threatened while living in
isolation. This can also negatively impact patients of dementia and their health and well-being.
So for this better interventions needs to be taken by health care professionals so that their health
outcome can be improved.
Theme 2: key interventions and approaches used by the health care management to treat the
patients who has dementia
As per the opinion of () there are various interventions and approaches which is being used
by health care professionals in order to enhance health outcome of patients who are been
suffering from dementia. Person centred approach is been used, in this care workers lays
emphasis on enhancing physical as well as physiological well being of patients. Medication can
also be used when the need for it arises. However it has been analysed that decision related to
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drugs is been made by taking personal interest of an individual. The care workers are also
provided with the responsibility to provide patients with an enabling environment. It has been
analysed and said by FitzGerald and et.al., (2019) that the area in which a person lives also
affects their well-being In this they need to ensure that environment is not creating any type of
difficulties for the patients who are suffering from Dementia. This can be achieved through
having clear signs and labelling and making use of pictures to make patients with dementia
understand about where to go and where not to. No confusing patterns should be mentioned as it
can be mistaken for the hazards. Care workers also needs to be engaged in minimising all the risk
factors, so that better freedom of choice is been given to patients with Dementia. Care workers
can also be engaged in making use of arts to take care of people with dementia. In this patients
can be motivated to make use paints and colours and can be engaged in drawing, so this can led
to health care professional in knowing about their thoughts and feelings.
As described by Lisowska and et.al., (2019) community based dementia care giving
intervention can also be used for treating and managing patients with dementia. In this support
can be given to community workers while providing them with psychological support and
training so that the depressive state of the care giver can be lower down. This can assist them in
providing high quality of care to patients and also they can easily work with vulnerable patients.
This will also assist them in giving patients with early intervention as dementia must be treated
early in order to overcome the future issues and crisis. This will assist in enhancing health
outcome and well-being of patients who are been suffering from dementia.
Theme 3: challenges which have been faced by heath care practitioners while treating people
who have dementia.
According to Hackett and et.al., (2019) there are various challenges that have been faced
by health care professionals in treating and management of patients who are suffering from
dementia. It has been analysed that dementia patients are not at risk to themselves but also to
other public. Handling and taking care of them includes lots of patience. It has also been
analysed that patients are also at risk to take care of them, they might be engaged in making use
of any such things that can harm themselves and others too. So for this nurses and health care
professionals needs to work together. They should also be engaged in sharing their views and
points with social care worker. Health care professional also cannot allow the patients to be
engaged in doing any such type of task which is dangerous for them like for example driving. So
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this in long term can affect the doctor patient relationship. This might increase difficulty in
treating the patients as they will not listen to care workers after this. It can lay huge impact on
health outcome of patients suffering from dementia. It has also been analysed and described by
Holmquist, Nordström and Nordström, (2020) that it is really difficult to treat patients with
vulnerability. Author has also described that dementia patients also have the threat of social
isolation. They fear living alone and away from their loved ones. This problem is also been
increased during the time of novel corona virus pandemic. As so many countries have
implemented lockdowns, the families are unable to meet their loved ones. This has highly
impacted the health and well-being of dementia patients. They feel discriminated as these
patients are not allowed to go outside. This has also increased the challenges for health care
professionals in managing and lowering down the risk for patients with dementia. It has also
been analysed that health care professionals also face difficulty in communicating with patients
and understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour as these people have problem in
communicating. So health care professionals are unable to know about whether the approach
which is being used by them is effective or not. They are also unable to take feedback from these
patients about the techniques used by them to enhance their health outcome as well as well-
being.
Theme 4: effective recommendation to improve the health
conditions and well- being to treat the patients who has dementia.
In accordance with Nordström and Nordström, (2018) in order to overcome the issues which
have been faced by health care professionals and nurses while treating patients with dementia,
they need to be engaged in making better care plan. They need to be engaged in developing the
promoting activity and making sure that independence and stability is been provided in the early
intervention. This will assist the health care professionals in enhancing health outcome of
patients. It has also been analysed that in order to better treat patients, care workers can also
make use of arts in their interventions. They can provide music therapy to patients so that they
have a calming feeling and also it will assist them in enhancing their health outcome. In this they
can also motivate patients to draw and paint so that they can know what patients is going
through. This will assist in treating patient better. It will also be helpful in overcoming the risk
which has been faced by them and also this can assist in improving health outcome of patient
suffering from dementia.
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DISCUSSION
In this section various questions were been asked from health care professionals to know more
about how they manage and treat patients with dementia. It includes the following:
Theme 1: manage patients with dementia
Health care professionals Number
Person centred approach 12
Medical intervention 3
Non medical intervention 5
Total 20
Interpretation: From the above study it has been summarised that in order to manage patients
with dementia and to provide them with better treatment, health care professionals has made use
of various approaches. It has been analysed that most of them make use of persona centred
approach which is really useful in providing holistic care to patients who are been suffering from
dementia. In these 12 health care workers has agreed that they make use of PCA in treating
patients. Medical and non medical interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy is also been
used by professionals. By this they have been able to know about thoughts and feelings of
patients. 3 Of them uses medical intervention while 5 of them make use of non medical
intervention.
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Theme 2: issues face while treating patients with dementia
Health care professionals Number
Treating with vulnerability 7
Managing them to be away from risk 7
Maintaining better patient-doctor relationship 6
Total 20
Interpretation: It has been analysed that there are various issues that has been faced while
treating patients with dementia. Both patient and physicians are at risk when treating them. It has
been analysed that 7 health care professionals has said that dealing with patient’s dementia
vulnerability is really tough. It is really hard to predict what mood they will be in when care is
been given to them. 7 have also said that it is really difficult to keep them away from risks for
this they make use of clear signs and symbols so that patients can be kept safely. All these
instructions also affect patient doctor relationship said by 6 doctors.
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Theme 3: Dementia can appear in any age
Health care professionals Number
Yes 16
No 4
Total 20
Interpretation: It has been summarised from the above bar graph that Dementia can be appeared
in any age. In this 16 health care professionals has agreed. They have said that around so many
patients are suffering from dementia in United Kingdom 2% of the population in it is young. It
has also been analysed in young people in this condition can go through depression and even
anxiety. This can affect their health and well being and also they will not be able to take their
decisions.
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Theme 4: COVID-19 has made patients more vulnerable
Health care professionals Number
Yes 15
No 5
Total 20
Interpretation: From the above graph it has been summarised that novel corona virus has made
the patient with dementia more vulnerable. This is because they are staying away from their
loved ones and also because of lockdown situation families are unable to meet their closed ones.
This has affected their health and well-being and also because of corona virus pandemic these
people have become more vulnerable. It has been agreed by 15 health care professionals that risk
of this infection has lower down the health outcome of patients and also they will not be able to
meet their families.
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Theme 5: better policies for management of dementia needs to be made
Health care professional Number
Yes 17
No 3
Total 20
From the above pie chart it has been drawn that better policies needs to be made for the
management of dementia. There are gaps in UK policies. It has been analysed that health care
professionals has said that better resources needs to be provided to them so that they can give
adequate attention to patients who are been suffering from dementia. 17 health care professionals
has agreed that their are gaps in services while 3 has not.
CONCLUSION
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Nordström, A. and Nordström, P., 2018. Traumatic brain injury and the risk of dementia
diagnosis: A nationwide cohort study. PLoS medicine, 15(1), p.e1002496.
Holmquist, S., Nordström, A. and Nordström, P., 2020. The association of depression with
subsequent dementia diagnosis: A Swedish nationwide cohort study from 1964 to
2016. PLoS medicine, 17(1), p.e1003016.
Hackett, R.A., and et.al., 2019. Social engagement before and after dementia diagnosis in the
English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Plos one, 14(8), p.e0220195.
Lisowska, A. and et.al., 2019. Joint pairing and structured mapping of convolutional brain
morphological multiplexes for early dementia diagnosis. Brain connectivity, 9(1), pp.22-
36.
FitzGerald, J.M., and et.al., 2019. The incidence of recorded delirium episodes before and after
dementia diagnosis: differences between dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's
disease. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 20(5), pp.604-609.
Orkaby, A.R. and et.al., 2017. Continued use of warfarin in veterans with atrial fibrillation after
dementia diagnosis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(2), pp.249-256.
Drabo, E.F. and et.al., 2019. Longitudinal analysis of dementia diagnosis and specialty care
among racially diverse Medicare beneficiaries. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 15(11), pp.1402-
1411.
McKeith, I.G. and et.al., 2017. Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy
bodies. Neurology, 89(1), pp.88-100.
Arvanitakis, Z., Shah, R.C. and Bennett, D.A., 2019. Diagnosis and management of dementia.
Jama, 322(16), pp.1589-1599.
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APPENDIX
Questionnaire
Q1. How do you manage patients with dementia?
 Person centred approach
 Medical intervention
 Non medical intervention
Q2. What are the issues face while treating patients with dementia?
 Treating with vulnerability
 Managing them to be away from risk
 Maintaining better patient-doctor relationship
Q3 Do you feel like Dementia can appear in any age?
 Yes
 No
Q4. Do you think COVID-19 has made patients more vulnerable?
 Yes
 No
Q5. Do you think that better policies for management of dementia needs to be made?
 Yes
 No
15