Question

Identify the possible actual and potential health issues of a client suffering with long term dementia. List at least 3 (three) health issues and related impact as per the given example.

Answer 1

Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder where patient develops memory loss and it is irreversible

Actual issue:

• Memory loss
  • Tends to forget all instances from self identification to others and even society where they live
  • e.g.,A patient forgets his birthday ,marriage day,important occasions etc.,
• Activities of daily living
  • They forget to do the basic needs of personal hygiene
  • e.g., Patient not changed dress for many days
• Nutritional needs
  • They forget to eat or drink this can make them malnourished and health related problems
  • e.g., They gradually forget the way of swallowing and starts to keep food in the mouth for longer hours without proper stimulation

Potential problems

• Hallucination
  • They experience this in the later stage of the illness ,experiencing abnormal voices,sounds
  • e.g.., Patient complaining of some one is trying to injur them
• Wandering
  • Patient if by any chance gets out of the home without any supervision can lead to wandering and loss of the individual
  • e.g., A patient when goes to the next neighbour often forgets the way back
• Anger
  • They usually develop Sunset syndrome and gears staying the dark and often suoecrs others and tries to protect self by harming other unintentionally
  • e.g., A patient who is about to be served with food in evening often things the person has come to do harm