Late Stage Dementia and Nutrition - 785 Words

Late stage Dementia and Nutrition What is dementia? Dementia a neurologic condition characterized by the following cognitive defects; impaired memory, disturbed intellectual function, and inability to solve a problem (deWit O’Neill 2014). Dementia occurs in different stages in this paper we are going to be discussing late stage dementia, and the end stage. The effect that dementia has on a person’s nutritional status. Why is the dementia patient more at risk for malnutrition? Things we as health care providers can do to improve the person with dementias intake, and preventing malnutrition, and finally how nutrition effects the dementia patient during the final and end stages. Dementia is a very common disorder that is more common in the older population. For people aged 60-69 the dementia rate is 1in 100, but in people over 80 the rate is 1in 6(A.Smith, 2011). Dementia is a terminal illness and the prognosis is grim, suffers are only expected to live 3 to 5 years after diagnosis (A.Smith, 2011). Dementia is divided into three stages early, middle and late. People can be in the late stage for many years. During the late stage the dementia patient suffers from a lot of different issues including but not limited to dysphagia, self-feeding, and eating problems. Nearly 50 percent of patients with dementia lose their ability to self-feed within 8 years after the onset of the disease (S.A. Thomas 2014).We know that malnutrition is a serious problem when it comes to dementiaShow MoreRelatedCaring for Dementia Patients Long Term Care1161 Words   |  5 PagesCaring for Dementia Patients Rodrick Williams English 122 Professor Susan Turner – Colon Caring for Dementia Patient It can be very difficult caring for a patient with dementia. Most caregivers are unaware of the problems, they must face. A family member attempting to care for a loved one without training will eventually turn to a Nursing Home that has experienced staff in the care of dementia patients. Although many families feel a senseRead MoreThe Cognitive Effects Of Single Diagnosed With Dementia1642 Words   |  7 PagesDementia is a condition resulting from obtained brain disease and distinguished by progressive decay in memory and other cognitive fields such as judgment, abstract thinking, language, and executive functioning. This disease is usually caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thoughts, memories, actions, and personality. Death of brain cells in this area leads to the impairments that distinguish dementia. Though the cognitive outline of single diagnosedRead MoreDevelopment Across the Lifespan: Adulthood970 Words   |  4 Pagesusually visual and hearing loss, loss of taste and smell, reaction time, and loss of balance . Most individuals in this stage have some type of chronic conditions. Alzheimers disease and Dementia become more prevalent with age. Individuals may experience loss of teeth and poor nutrition. Wrinkles start to develop along with trouble sleeping at night. Social/Cultural: At the stage elderly people dont involve in as much interaction with others. They do enjoy being around family and friends for theRead MoreUnit 40 Health Social Care P3 P4 M2 D1 Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pageschoose somebody who they feel they can trust to help manage their finances, properties and to help make their health and welfare decision. This is done through the power of attorney. This act links to individuals who suffer with dementia as within the late stages of dementia they will need to give someone the power of attorney due to the fact that they will not be able to manage their legal financial and health problems. Human Rights Act: This act not only impacts an individual’s life or their deathRead MoreTube Feeding Prolonging Life2291 Words   |  10 PagesAbstract This paper is written to discuss the ethical dilemma we come across when asking our self whether or not we should place a tube feeding in a patient with a history Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Will this prolong the patients’ life or just the inevitable death? Most often a decision needs to be made regarding the placement of a tube feeding. The question is not initiated by the patient themselves. This is the reason why educating our patients are so important. In this paper I will discussRead MoreEssay on Late Adulthood1394 Words   |  6 PagesLate Adulthood Late adulthood is known as the period of life after middle adulthood, usually from around 65 years old to death (Santrock, 2013, p. 485). There are many varying stages of development and health in late adulthood, along with steady changing of life expectancy. Aging is a part of life, and with it comes changes in every area of living. Many diseases find late adulthood as an opportune time to affect people. Eventually, whether caused by disease or another reason, every individual diesRead MoreEssay on Alzheimer’s Disease1678 Words   |  7 Pagesdisease is a progressive condition where the neurons degenerate in the brain, while the brain substance shrinks in volume. Alzheimer’s is also the number one cause of dementia. When it was first noticed, Alzheimer’s was thought to be a pre-senile disease, but now it is known to be responsible for seventy-five percent of the dementia cases in people over sixty-five years of age. Alzheimer’s disease usually causes several years of personal and intellectual decline until death. Because there is an increasingRead MoreThe Ethical Dilemma Of Artificial Nutrition And Hydration Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper the writer will describe the ethical dilemma of artificial nutrition and hydration in terminally ill patient. Artificial nutrition is very important in terminal ill patients in their end stage of life. It is very helpful to provide nutrients and fluids to the patient who is unable to take it by himself. In palliative units, AHN help to enhance the comfort and quality of care of patient. The purpose of this paper is to narrate how ethical issues can become challenging for health professionalRead MoreMiddle Adulthood Can Be Defined By Erikson s Stage Of Generativity Vs. Stagnation Essay1640 Words   |  7 PagesMiddle adulthood can be defined by Erikson’s stage of generativity vs. stagnation, being the time in which they would have had children, grandchildren and made the e ffort to aid them in becoming prosperous or have done nothing, leading to stagnation. Happy families involve interactions between the immediate family, grandparents and parent-sibling relationships, where conjugation and events are held, that foster the ability to share experiences and support one another. Parents that live vicariouslyRead MorePrevalence of Dementia in Australia2658 Words   |  11 Pagesdisorder called Dementia. In this case study, Antonio Renaldi shows most of the symptoms of Alzheimers disease, a type of dementia. It takes many years for dementia to develop before it is diagnosed, and for the cognitive abilities of the diseased person to deteriorate to a level where they are unable to continue their normal social and professional activities. According to a recent study (Prince et al., 2013), it is estimated that about 35. 6 million people suffered from dementia worldwide in 2010