Comprehensive Report on Dementia: Literature Review and Findings

This report provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, focusing on care strategies, social support, and the impact of Alzheimer's disease. It begins with background information on dementia, including its prevalence and the challenges faced by patients and their families. The report then outlines the research methodology, including the use of biomedical databases and a systematic review of relevant literature, utilizing keywords such as "cure or care in Alzheimer’s" and "social support in Alzheimer’s." The literature review analyzes two articles, applying the CASP framework for critical appraisal. Article 1 examines the importance of early diagnosis, contrasting cure and care approaches, and evaluating the reliability and validity of methods. Article 2 investigates the role of social support and resilience in spousal dementia, discussing the reliability of qualitative methods and the validity of results concerning family and friend support. The report concludes with recommendations for improved care and support, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches that consider the patient's needs and autonomy. The report stresses the importance of social support in improving the condition of patients suffering from dementia.

Running head: DEMENTIA
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Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

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Background
In the UK, more than 1,000,000 people are seen to suffer from dementia (Dewing and
Dijk 2016). On the global basis, 44 million are struggling with issues related to the same, making
Alzheimer a global health risk. Diagnosis of Alzheimer can change life of the individuals
suffering from the same. Things can be made smoother for the patients by educating them or
their family members; so that none is subjected to face the disease alone (Michael 2018).
Alzheimer can be termed as most common type of dementia with overall conditions wherein the
brain loses is normal functionality. Alzheimer causes problem with memory, behaviour and even
thinking. During initial stages impaired memory can be common. However, with progressive
stages, the disease causes more damage to the neurological functions. The rate of disease is
subjective to the affected individual with time span of 8 years after symptoms begin.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer, making care an important aspect for mitigating the
associated health risk.
The literature search
The search strategy
The current work makes use of biomedical databases. In addition to that, the research makes use
of a systematic review of relevant research literature; which would collect relevant study
pertaining to dementia that progressively turns out to be Alzheimer’s. The current research
therefore makes use of relevant secondary sources and aims to analyse the justified literature
through qualitative analysis.
In order to scan necessary databases, the research makes use of relevant keywords that
are as follows; “cure or care in Alzheimer’s”; “care for dementia”, “spousal dementia”,

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“resilience in dementia”, “social support in Alzheimer’s”, “Alzheimer’s disease”. Pub Med and
Medline were used for gathering relevant data. The series of keywords were lengthy and it is for
the same reason that the Booleans such as “AND”, “OR”, “NOT” were used for finding the right
sort of combination. The literature review of the research papers makes use of substantive
finding coupled with theoretical knowledge about the disease. Through the mentioned
intervention, general public can be made aware about the wider implication of dementia.
Simultaneously, research paper published after 2013 are chosen to obtain latest knowledge about
the chosen mental issues.
An overview of the literature
As stated by (Brooker and Latham), there remains no permanent care for disease such as
Alzheimer’s. It is for the same reason the journals provided below are chosen as they concentrate
on holistic care. The social care gained prime importance in recent past; specifically, when the
medical fraternity realised that Alzheimer’s had no promising medical intervention.
Critical framework used with justification
The framework used in the current research is CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills
Programme). The suggested tool helps in procuring evidence based approach in treating people
suffering from memory loss. The mentioned intervention concentrates on the weakness and
strength of the research article and aims to validate the usefulness of the research findings
pertaining to care for dementia patients.

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Critical review of article
Article 1:
Introduction- The research in current context discusses about the importance of early
diagnostic of Alzheimer beyond the aspect of cure and care. The positioning of cure and care
have appeared as two strategies for dealing with Alzheimer. The aspect of cure is defined
through the course of treatments. On the other hand, care stresses over the alternate strategies
that relates to social and even emotional support. In similar regards, it can be stated cure is often
positioned as an oppositional construct to back up the benefits of alternative approaches used in
area of care. Thus, position associated with cure versus care, suggests a position that needs to be
achieved for banishing the societal limitations associated with Alzheimer. The research discusses
about the importance pertaining to early diagnosis of Alzheimer, supported what has been
marked as aging and innovation discourse. The discourse within the current context assumed to
mitigate the societal issues in relation to ageing. The use of technical aspect in providing care to
the Alzheimer affected to the individuals is concentrated in current study. The objective is
successfully achieved, through the use of technology and how it can be leveraged to treat
Alzheimer (Brooker et al. 2016).
Reliability of Methods- The research makes use of interpretative packages in two
settings. The approach is bit different and involves events related to storytelling in both care and
cure events. The first setting is cure setting wherein diagnosis is made on molecular level or
health technology assessment. While the second level was care level; within which the subjects
were placed in warm and friendly environment. Then the people were asked to recall the events
after being subjected to the settings. The method is reliable as it demands the patients to recall

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memories a difficult task for people suffering from dementia. The rate of recall can determine the
level of dementia.
Validity of the results: The finding is seen to reach beyond the aspect of cure and care.
The finding stated that both the logical failed to provide positive results if implemented
individually. Division of care and cure are complemented on the ways; how best support can
help patients to gain positive health outcomes. Finally, it was found that cure through
technological and even health assessment can have dual implication on the finance and may be
difficult to be carried out in the long run. However, care can facilitate slow but progressive
results without much harm to the pockets.
Strength and limitations of study- The research through current diagnostic process
brings out the promising technologies while reinforcing particulars of the problems with forecast
of future. The paper discussed about the early mode of diagnostics and the ways it can relate to
reduce the impact of disease. Thus, it can be concluded, there is a broad variety of articulation
that can be found in both the settings. The research literature provided clear idea about the
different ways disease can be represented and even understood (Evans et al. 2018). The strength
of the research article resides within the holistic approach that encompassed bot cure and care.
However, the weakness remains in the fact that the research failed to keep in mind the cost
associated with the mentioned mode of medical and alternative intervention.
Conclusion/Recommendations- Finally, it can be concluded that the implication
associated with previous research study is mixed up with care and cure strategies. However, the
current research was devoid of such complexities. Nevertheless, it should be taken into
consideration, if different settings were made for the study then few interpretative packages
would have been different from others. In similar regards, it can be stated interpretative packages

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are less visible and may be silenced within the mode of ordering present settings (Fougère et al.
2015).

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Article 2:
Introduction- Dementia carers have unique needs and are likely to recover in presence
of people providing informal support. Social network is defined as structural character and refers
to the duration of social interaction. In case of dementia, social care and support can be termed as
transactional process through which relationship is known to provide platform for social
exchange and even emotional support. The effect of social support can promise better results
among the older adults who are prone to social exclusion and eventually dementia. Carers of
spousal dementia are often in need of special care. Spousal dementia carers are often at risk of
being subjected to social isolation. The current work stresses the importance of social care in
improving patients’ condition suffering from dementia. The research thus proceeds with the use
of qualitative study to understand the importance of social support and even resilience among the
older individuals suffering from spousal dementia (Karlsson et al. 2015).
Reliability of Methods- The research makes use of primary mode of data collection.
Simultaneously, the research is seen to use qualitative mode of data collection that makes use of
interview. The sample size for the current research is 23. The mode of sampling for the current
study was made through purposive sampling. The prime aim of the chosen mode of sampling can
be attributed to the fact people associated with spousal dementia are made the research subjects.
The effect of dementia and rate of progression can differ among patients. Spousal dementia is
often resultant of isolation and thus can have different aspect and implication. Hence the chosen
method is reliable.
Validity of the results: - Friends and family members can serve as an important source
of care. In similar regards, it can be stated close family members are often seen to serve wide

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range of functions but were equally reachable to resilient and even non-resilient participants.
Support from the family can be perceived to be less helpful, if the family members create a
feeling of over dependence. The participants were unlikely to resist involvement of their
grandchildren. The resist involvement of grandchildren can be attributed to the relatively narrow
support functions. Support from the friends can be termed useful. Surprisingly, neighbours are
seen to play important role in managing crisis associated with dementia. However, it should be
taken into consideration, the perception stated above may change the effect of support in regards
to resilience (Kontos, Miller and Kontos 2017).
Strength and limitations of study- As per the research objective, it was important to
identify the availability and importance of support to spousal dementia carers. Discussion can be
drawn from the results, pointing towards the fact that resilient carers are in same condition as
non-resilient carers from the perspective of social support. Resilient carers and non-resilient
carers have equal need for care and support. Thus, it would be fair enough to state that social
support is not enough to facilitate resilience (Livingston et al. 2017). The research’s prime
strength is the aspect of cure. It is evident that dementia is a disease without strong provision of
medical care. However, the research failed to understand the fact that availability of friends and
family; thus, it would have been better to provide alternative options for social interaction
Conclusion/Recommendations- Based on the study, it would be fair enough to conclude
that support functions are known to promote resilience, provided it matches perceived need of
the distressed individual. Thus, it can be recommended that social support in case of spousal
dementia can be made on the terms of the patient and not to relinquish the feeling associated
with autonomy

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Reference
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