the many losses of alzheimer’s chantel bishop rn
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The Many Losses of Alzheimer’s Chantel Bishop RN. Sharing the Knowledge in Hospice Palliative Care October 22 nd , 2011. A little bit about myself. What I hope you will learn from today’s presentation……. An understanding of dementia and how it affects brain function. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Many Losses of Alzheimer’s
Chantel Bishop RN
Sharing the Knowledge in Hospice Palliative Care
October 22nd, 2011
A little bit about myself
What I hope you will learn from today’s presentation……
• An understanding of dementia and how it affects brain function.
• The “Silent Epidemic” it is
• The particular losses individuals and their families experience with dementia
What is Dementia?
• Umbrella term – decline in multiple cognitive functions
• Usually gradual onset but progressive
• Generally not reversible
• Causes damage to different areas of the brain
Types of Dementia
• Over 70 different types
• Alzheimer’s Disease most common
The Silent EpidemicCanadian numbers....
• ~ 500 000 have Alzheimer’s or other dementia (ADOD)
• 70 000 < 65 living with dementia
• 1 in 11 > 65 have ADOD
• 2008 – 103 700 new cases of dementia (1 new case every 5 minutes).
• 2038 – projected to be 257 800 (1 new case every 2 minutes)
Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society
Alzheimer’s & The Brain
The 7 A’s of Dementia
– Useful tool to categorize and explain losses of dementia.
– How dementia affects the brain
– Each A will represent damage to a particular area of the brain
– Not likely to experience all of them
#1 - Anosognosia
• No knowledge of illness or disease
• Lives in present but with past memories.
• Lack of insight.• Often behaviour and
safety concerns.
#2 - Amnesia
• Loss of memory
• Short and long term
• Memory loss is in reverse order – like peeling an onion
• Their reality is not ours.
#3 - Aphasia
• Loss of language
• Expressive aphasiao Unable to express self
• Receptive Aphasiao Understanding of what is
said
• Non-verbal communication usually very much intact.
#4 - Agnosia
• Loss of Recognitiono people, objects,
sounds
• Perceived but not recognized – disconnect between senses and memory
• Can lead to altered behaviors and interactions.
#5 – Apraxia
• Loss of purposeful movement – even though physically able and desire to do so.
• Results from impaired motor planning and sequencing.
#6 - Altered Perception
• Altered depth perception
• Visual distortions.
• Altered tactile perception.
#7 - Apathy
• Loss of initiation.
• Often interpreted as a sign of depression
• Involves frontal lobes and limbic system.
Other common losses
• Having to retire from work
• Managing finances
• Transition from independent living to care
• And one of the most difficult losses – driving!
Driving
Family and loved ones
• They experience loss too.
• While the loved one is still alive.
• Physically present but not psychologically.
• Loss of shared history, sense of humor, ability to communicate, role within the family.
In summary.............
• Dementia is a chronic, progressive disease; with no cure.
• Individuals and their families suffer multiple losses throughout the course of the disease.
• Think about ways you can help someone living with dementia.