Dementia is a syndrome which is linked with the decline of the human brain and its functions. Problems may be experienced in thinking, language processing and understanding, memory and judgement. Those suffering from dementia may also experience personality changes, as well as problems controlling their emotions and being able to act appropriately in social situations.
Dementia occurs mainly in those aged sixty-five years and over, with estimates of almost twenty percent of men experiencing it aged eighty-five or over, and almost thirty percent of women experiencing it in the same age group. There are several types of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia and Frontotemporal dementia. Unfortunately, once diagnosed with dementia the outlook is not good, as in most cases there is no known cure for the condition and it will get worse over time.
The health and social care of the patient needs to be assessed, and a care plan will be drawn up. It needs to be ascertained whether a family member can take care of the patient or if extra care is required, home improvements may need to be made and physical and occupational therapies need to be considered.
There are specialised nurses called Admiral Nurses who provide care to patients and support existing carers such as family members. The Admiral Nurses are a service provided by the charity “For Dementia”, providing emotional and psychological support to sufferers and carers and promoting positive approaches to living with dementia. But these are not the only nurse jobs involved with patients suffering from dementia, the charity works closely with the NHS, social care authorities and other voluntary service organisations to promote and develop their services.
It has been a big concern recently that funding for research into dementia, its causes, treatment and possible cures is not being given enough investment. A report by the Alzheimer's Research Trust indicates that for every UK pound spent on research into dementia, twelve times is spent on research into cancer, a gap in funding which the charity urges needs to be bridged. Better investment into researching treatments as well providing more funding for nursing jobs and social care would lead to a better quality of life for those affected by dementia.
Existing psychological and physical treatments for the symptoms of dementia include cognitive stimulation, behavioural therapy, multisensory stimulation, exercise therapy and medicines such as antipsychotics. Unfortunately, not all forms of dementia can be avoided by taking preventative measures in your lifestyle, although some measures can help prevent vascular dementia. By eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising sufficiently, not smoking and by only drinking in moderation you can go a long way to preventing the vascular form of this debilitating condition.
Labour Care Services Minister Phil Hope has said that by next year the government will be investing nearly £1bn into health research, including towards the causes, care and cure of dementia.
The author works for a website specialised in
nursing jobs and nurse jobs in the UK.
