| Alzheimer’s disease: Dementia in the United States |
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Alzheimer’s is the leading form of dementia in the United States. It is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain. The neurons, cells that transmit messages, are destroyed resulting in impaired memory, thinking & behavior. Alzheimer’s disease leaves the victim with a continued decline in intellectual abilities that eventually results in the inability to perform even the simplest of everyday activities. Communication is generally affected first. Repetitive questions, inability to recall words, and forgetfulness are common. A person with Alzheimer’s disease requires the elimination of barriers in communication. These include eliminating pronouns (he, she, them, there), literal terms (i.e. “hop into bed” or “it’s raining cats and dogs”), and the use of terms of endearment (honey, sweetie, ect.). Those affected with Alzheimer’s think in very concrete terms. We must alter our style of communication to meet their needs. Behavior is also a challenge for those who care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Behavior should be viewed as a form of communication. There are many modifiers to behavior: physical discomfort, over stimulation, unfamiliar surroundings, and frustration just to name a few. It is important to remember that we must modify our behavior (just as we must modify our method of communication) to meet the needs of those with Alzheimer’s. We have to enter the world of Alzheimer’s disease, as they can not enter ours. We provide present moments of comfort and reassurance with our understanding of this disease. Our understanding of the devastation that occurs with Alzheimer’s disease will mean the difference in the lives of those we serve. There are approximately 4.5 million Americans with the disease with one out of ten over the age of 65 being affected. By the year 2010, it is estimated that 8 million people will have Alzheimer’s disease. These staggering statistics are overwhelming the ability for our health care system to respond in an appropriate manner. |