Exploring the Social Consequences of Dementia Care in Nursing Homes

This report, written from the perspective of a registered adult nurse working in a UK nursing home, delves into the social consequences of dementia care. The author utilizes the Gibbs reflective cycle to analyze their experiences, particularly focusing on patients with Alzheimer's disease and the challenges of providing care. The report highlights the importance of understanding the different stages of dementia, the impact on patients and their families, and the role of nurses in providing compassionate and effective care. It discusses various aspects of patient care, including nutrition, communication, and maintaining personhood. The author also addresses communication impairments and the need for improved strategies to support patients. The report emphasizes the significance of maintaining relationships, respecting patient preferences, and providing a safe and secure environment, ultimately contributing to the professional development of nurses through reflective practice.

Social
Consequences Of
Dementia care
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Introduction
Dementia is known broad category of brain diseases which can causes long term
impact mental ability of an individual. In health and social care sector nurses play significant
role while providing care to people who suffer from dementia. Many time when it became
difficult for family member to take care of people who suffer from dementia they are
admitted in health care home where nurses and other health care professional work together
in order to provide care to patient. The present essay is about to develop deep understanding
related to issues faced by people who suffer from dementia and its social consequences.
While working in a registered adult nurse within a nursing home in the UK and have many
experiences working with patients with a diagnosis of dementia at various stages of their
disease. Over half of the residents of the care home have a formal diagnosis of dementia and
the most common type of dementia I come across in Alzheimer's disease. My work is to
support people who suffer required different mental health needs within the registered
nursing home enabling them to maintain independent living. In order to maximise the
outcome of an individual with dementia it is important to collaborate with other health
professional care. In this report I will show reflect my own experience while working people
with dementia with the use of Gibbs model. There are many benefits of Gibbs reflective cycle
such as it motivates systematic thinking related to the phases of an experience or activity.
Along with this it provide opportunity to view different perspective on a given experience
problem and actions. Through the help of Gibbs reflective cycle and individual can easily
balanced and precise judgement. However there are some limitation of this reflective cycle
such as in this question are narrow and professional experienced guidance’s is needed. Due to
absence detailed questions at the various stages there is more detail model is need for deeper
reflection. In the analysis stage a research can select repress or overlook an unpleasant event
Reflective
Reason for choosing Gibbs model is that it permits to me more articulate in
approached to real life scenario. With the help of this the entire situation can be reflected with
different perspective. Along with this action can be taken in future if the same situation recurs
in nursing while providing care. It also helps in analysing strength and weakness of the action
taken in some circumstance and straightforward point of analysis. Gibbs reflective cycle can
help in contributing to the professional development of nurses through learning from
mistakes and from accomplishments (Tesh and Kautz, 2017).
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Potter (2015), state that nurse can easily measure infer and gain knowledge from their
experience through this reflective model. Reflective cycle help in creating practice based
knowledge and can also improve patient care delivering through reflection on their own
experience. Due to this reason gibbs reflective cycle has been selected for reflecting my own
experience while providing care to people with dementia.
The report of The Dementia UK (2007) demonstrated dementia is known as a
gathering of symptom which includes loss of memory, communication and reasoning. Due to
cognitive failure there is parallel decline in functions and skills an individual face difficulty in
carrying out day to day activities. Dementia is progressive and unrelenting regardless of
chemical intervention. At the time when disease progress then an individual with dementia
become more vulnerable and it became difficult to provide care to them. While providing
care to dementia people I analysis different causes of Dementia. It can be caused due to head
injury, infections etc (Emery and Chang, 2017). In adults when brain cells stop functioning
it lead to cognitive impairment that characterise dementia.
It is not a single disease but in generally it is impairment of memory, thinking and
communication. Some of the most possible symptoms of dementia is loss of memory, facing
problem while communicating, personality change etc. Alzheimer disease is one of the most
common irreversible causes of dementia. In the healthcare home more than 50% of patients
suffer from Alzheimer diseases. These diseases mainly occur due to abnormal deposits of
protein in the brain which can destroy the cells in the areas of the brain which role is to
control memory and mental functions. Alzheimer is not new diseases as it observed mostly in
older age people. Along with this I learned that there are some warning sides of Alzheimer
diseases which disrupts of daily life and memory loss. Some symptoms of Alzheimer diseases
known as facing problem in remembering things and names and recent communication which
is often early symptoms (Husebø, O'Regan and Nestel, 2015)
Further diseases can enhance and some symptoms can be noticed such as poor
judgement, unable to walk, speak and behaviour changes. When somebody has determined to
have Alzheimer's infection, the main individual who can be influenced is the family. They
may have blended feelings, begins to questions why various stuff transpiring.. As an
attendant, it is indispensable to have mindfulness on the most proficient method to manage
this circumstance. The attendant should dependably keep up picking up assent first before
each demonstration or plan to do and should not reveal anything about the patient (Kumar,
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2016). The present significant treatment for Alzheimer's is drug administration and each
phase of Alzheimer's requires an alternate medicine. Gentle to direct Alzheimer's is treated
with cholinesterase inhibitors. These sorts of drugs are recommended in light of the fact that
they may help postpone or keep the side effects from winding up more awful for a period and
furthermore help oversee practices. The medicine include: Razadyne (galantamine), Exelon
(rivastigmine), and Aricept (donepezil). Another medication, Cognex (tacrine), was the main
affirmed cholinesterase inhibitor yet is infrequently recommended today because of security
concerns". These medications fundamental impact is to postpone movement of a portion of
the manifestations and they may enable patients to keep up certain day by day works
somewhat longer than they would without the pharmaceutical. The prescription may enable a
patient in the later phases of the ailment to keep up his or her capacity to utilize the
washroom freely for a few more months, an advantage for the two patients and parental
figures
The first stage of Gibbs reflective cycle is description. At present I am working in a
registered adult nurse within a nursing home in the UK. There I gain lots of experience
related to the diagnosis of dementia and its various stages. I found that Alzheimer diseases is
one of the most common type of dementia from which most of the adult suffers. As health
care professional are more aware about the dementia and its causes (Cronin and Lowes,
2016). Health care professional know the way to provide care to people who unable to
recognise anything and carried out their day to day activities. At many times people unable to
provide quality care to people who suffer from dementia and they are admitted in elderly
homes. One of the negative perception was created among people that dementia is related to
social isolation which includes loss of status, and loss of friends. Hence, services provided
have to offer care which provides these patient personhood through maintaining their
uniqueness and identity. At the health care home this is done by maintaining individuality to
known and understands things which is important for patient such as emotional needs,
physical and spiritual. While working as a caregiver it is important for me to keep caring
attitude towards the patients and understand the reason behind illness. Along with this, to
recognise one needs and trusting and respecting their wishes is one of the effective way of
providing care. A dimension of compassiaonate care can be seen at the health care home. In
care home a Betty was a new patient who was admitted to our wards. I shall call her Betty in
the moderate stages of her dementia. Betty needed the most basic of nursing care provided
including assistance to eat and drink managing her nutrition & hydration. Betty would not eat
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her food for every member of staff and some colleagues struggled to feed her and spend
enough time with her to ensure Betty has an adequate diet. Sometimes staff had to provide
further food in the day to ensure Betty had an adequate intake. I did manage to feed Betty on
most occasions and at the same time providing comfort in 10 minutes of undisturbed
conversation and meeting her individual needs by understanding food choices and Betty's
like for sweet and savoury foods (Okamoto, Koide and Tanaka, 2017). It allowed a great
sense of achievement for me to assist Betty when they are at their most vulnerable. For me it
become important to provide quality care to patients as is one of the important aspects. The
quality can be measured through the cleanliness of the environment, compliance with
regulation and the type of nursing and medical care.
Emotion is considered as one of the important part in the personal identity and in the
nursing practices it play important role for commitment to care. Emotions of an individual hel
in improving care. To patient it is essential to provide care which with showing positivie
emotions that helps in overcome diseases.
Memory misfortune can be one of the primary side effects a an indivdual encounters
with Alzheimer's, and those living with Lewy body dementia may likewise turn out to be
effectively confused. These differed indications can make maintaining relationship more
difficult, however relationships are no less imperative for individuals with dementia than for
whatever remains of us. Maintaining relationship, however, particularly among companions
who are not forced to proceed with association on account of another feeling of obligation
over an individual with dementia, can take work. At the time of providing care to Betty or
other patient it is essential for me to maintain personhood. It is important to take permisson
with an individual with dementia before visiting. It is essential to validate the person with
dementia.
While providing care I analysed that services provider should not be treated as a
child. It is essential to maintain strong relationship with them through wining their trust. Care
should be provided in such a manner that individual feel safe and secure this can be done
through considering their likes and dislikes. At the time of providing care to Betty I was
aware of Betty's food likes and dislikes as I had spoken to the family on many
occasions when they visited and also spoke with Betty who was still able to communicate
using a non-verbal approach by looking at pictures in relation to her food choices. To
maintain independency.
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The practice of reflection assists me to investigate, through area for development
while providing effective care, through experience. Reflection is one of the essential part for
gaining knowledge and understanding, to reflect on experience that can be positive or
negative taking into consideration self-feedback.
My first skill which I investigated is the way of communication can be increase for
clients who are communication impairments. This I raised in one of my multidisciplinary
team meeting in the nursing adult in respect to care patient with dementia.
At the health care organisation I discover that level at which nurses and support
worker communicate with patient in ineffective manner because they have impairment. This
issue motivate me to conduct investigation where I found that there are more than 2.4 million
people in UK who suffer from communication impairment. They unable to communicate
with others and they have some skills to communicate with the use of picture, symbol and
sign. Communication is known as the process in which two people exchange their ideas,
thoughts, opinion and information through verbally or non-verbally. Communication problem
was faced by Bettty due to which I felt frustrated sometimes. I identified that other nurse’s
supports were not enough while providing care. I propose that both verbal and non-verbal
communications are essential at the time of dealing with Betty because it is important to
ensure that message which is send to her is clear. For this, purpose I need to design a strategy
which will help in promoting empowerment. For instance I can create a conductive
environment in which all the information which is communicated should be listened carefully
and observe her body language. Along with this, speaking slowly and use of short and simple
word is effective strategy to communicate with Betty. One of the manners by which
individuals with dementia are debilitated in correspondence is that of being consistently
outpaced, having others talk, move and act all the more rapidly that they can comprehend or
coordinate.
Learning and knowledge which is developed from this experience will affect my
future practice in different territories which incorporate communication and sympathy. I am
aware of the difficulties looked by Betty and this has expanded my insight in clinical practice
where I have watched that dysfunctional behavior can weaken patient's capacity to
correspondence, for instance dementia, schizophrenia, unhappiness and psychosis cause's
cognitive impairment which can intrudes with an individual capacity to think plainly, to
recognize reality from dream, to oversee feelings, decide, and identify with others, which
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frequently upsets the improvement of a helpful relationship. I have learnt a great deal about
The Mental Capacity Act, 2005 gives direction with respect to what components ought to be
taken over when making a choice to somebody's greatest advantage.
Second skill which I identified is related dignity and it is essential in relation to Betty
an adult patient which is suffering from difficulty and at the started stage of dementia. At the
time when I was involved in the case of Betty I identified that she neglect her personal
hygiene because of her incontinence condition. Dignity means treating someone with respect
and treated in like I was somebody. A thing which is appeared in my opinion is related to
providing care in a dignified way.
Betty individual care in a way that keep up his dignity, having support from
colleagues and a progressive preparing in conveying care, and strong ward condition. I raised
a few issues with my coach that was missing when taking care of Mrs Betty which
incorporates: Respect, Privacy, Self-regard (self-esteem, character and a feeling of oneself)
and Autonomy.
Conclusion
From the above report it is concluded that while working in health care firm it is essential for
researcher. There are various types of dementia diseases that can be occur in adulthood. It is
essential for nurses to provide proper care to people who suffer from dementia so that they
can live quality life. For nurses it is important to ensure that patient received proper care from
them which help them in overcome their diseases. Further it is concluded that Gibbs
reflective cycle is effective in order to evaluate own experience which is gain from providing
quality services to services user.
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Reference
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Cronin, C.J. and Lowes, J., 2016. Embedding experiential learning in HE sport coaching
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Kumar, K., 2016. Reflection and its uses in Problem Solving and Personal Development.
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