Transcript Understanding Alzheimer`s Disease

Understanding
Alzheimer’s Disease
Presented by
Greater Wisconsin Chapter
Objectives
• What is Dementia
• Understanding of reversible and irreversible dementias;
Alzheimer’s
• Effects of dementia and stages
• Communication
• Life Story
Dementia
• NOT a normal part of aging
• Progressive loss of intellectual abilities such as
thinking, remembering & reasoning that interfere
with daily living
• Interferes with ability to care for oneself, socialize,
plan for the future
• Can accompany or be part of many diseases and
physical conditions
• Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of
dementia
What are the Reversible Causes of
Dementia?
Infection
Drugs
Emotional changes (Depression)
Blood Sugars (Hypo/hyperglycemia)
Eyes & Ears
Nutrition
Tumors
Alcohol
Irreversible Causes of Dementia
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Alzheimer’s Disease
Lewy-Body Dementia
Vascular Dementia
Front temporal Dementia (Pick’s Disease)
AIDS & at least 70 other conditions
Alzheimer’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder that gradually
destroys a person’s memory, ability to learn, reasoning,
making judgments, communicate and carry out daily
activities.
• As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also
experience changes in personality & behavior, such as
anxiety, suspiciousness, agitation, delusions or
hallucinations
• Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of
irreversible dementia
• Each person progresses differently through the disease
process
Brain of Healthy Older Adult
Brain of Person with
Alzheimer’s Disease
The Effects of Dementia
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Memory Changes
Language Changes
Perception & Recognition Changes
Purposeful Movement Changes
Complex Thought Changes
• We need to change, they can not
Early Stage Characteristics
 Short-term memory
 Handling money
 New learning
 Finding words
 Decreased attention span
Middle Stage Characteristics
 Sleep disturbances
 Language skill decline
 Wandering
 Paranoia
 Disinhibition
 Hallucinations
 Agitation
 Resistance
 Social isolation
 Sun downing
Late Stage Characteristics
 Non-recognition of self or others
 Communication profoundly impaired
 24 hour care required
 Incontinent
So unique!!!
So, you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s
Disease. That only means you’ve met one
person with Alzheimer’s Disease!
Life Story
• The person’s Life Story
is the basis for all interactions
with him or her.
• It is the way to connect
the individual to his or her day.
What is a “Life Story?”
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Life accomplishments & achievements
Likes & Dislikes
Relationships with family & friends
Pet Peeves & Comforts
Routines
Cultures & Traditions, Rituals
Communication Varies with Each Individual
The person with dementia may:
• Have difficulty finding the right words
• Use familiar words repeatedly
• Invent new words to describe familiar things
• Easily lose their train of thought
• Revert to native languages
• Use inappropriate language (curse words)
• Rely on gestures instead of verbalizations
Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is everything but the
actual words we speak!
Visual Cues
Tone of Voice
Body Language
Non-verbal communication
becomes more important as the
disease progresses.
Help the Person Communicate
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Be patient and supportive
Show interest
Offer reassurance
Give the person the gift of
time
• Do not criticize or correct
• Do not argue
• Offer a guess
• Limit distractions
Use Your Best Communication Skills
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Identify yourself
How is the environment
Use the person’s name
Make eye contact
Use short, simple words and sentences
Speak slowly and clearly
Give one-step directions
Ask one question at a time
Symptomatic Behaviors
People with dementia
cannot change who they are
any more than they can
change the effects of
dementia.
It is up to us to adapt.
Behavior Becomes the Symptom
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All behavior has meaning.
Form of communication
Not always a “problem”
Does not just happen, but
builds over time
Behavior becomes the
language of the disease
IMPORTANT!
 Sudden and/or a major changes in typical mood,
function or behavior, could be caused by other
physical conditions (reversible causes).
 Remember Alzheimer’s disease is slow and
progressive
 We must carefully assess and appropriate treat
Possible Influences to Consider
• Work history/habits
• Chronic medical
conditions
• Environment unfamiliar,
too stimulating, not
stimulating
• Tasks too difficult
• Pain
• Past leisure interests
• Acute medical
conditions
• Misperception
• Approaches of care
partners, others
• Confusing cues in the
environment
Observation
1. When does the problem occur
2. Who was involved/Who was effected
3. What emotions were expressed Anger, Frustration, Fear
4. How did the care professional respond
5. How was their approach
Problem Solving
1. Try to understand why this behavior is occurring.
2. What factors may be triggering the behavior
3. Develop a list of alternative strategies for responding to
the behavior or situation.
4. Problem solving is a process of trail and error.
5. Recognize elements in the environment, medical issues or
problems of communication
6. Know the resident
Alzheimer’s Association
Our Mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the
advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and
support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia
through the promotion of brain health.
Our Vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.
• Information & Referral and Care Consultation
• Caregiver and Early Stage Support Groups
• Education: Professional and Consumer
• Medic Alert + Safe Return
• Advocacy
Questions?