LOOKING AT LONG-TERM CONDITIONS
Achieving effective dementia care in the community Aysha Mendes
Freelance journalist specialising in health, psychology and nursing
Nursing contribution to dementia In addition to the efforts of governments, and communities through initiatives such as Dementia Friends and creating Dementia Friendly Communities, there has been discussion about the contribution nurses can make to people living with dementia (Department of Health (DH), 2013). The word dementia is used to describe a collection of symptoms including memory loss, confusion, mood changes, and difficulty with reasoning, perception, communication and dayto-day tasks (DH, 2013). Not only can dementia be terrifying for the people who suffer from it directly, it can be devastating for the family members and carers, and can even be frightening for health professionals who are struggling to understand what their patients are going through and why they may behave in unpredictable ways (Mendes da Mata, 2014). However, it is essential for all nurses to work to overcome any fear or stigma around dementia, in order to see past the condition and through to the individual, and provide consistently compassionate and person-centred care as they would to any other patient. Dementia can cause problems with communication, making it difficult sometimes for people with the condition to tune into their emotions or express themselves effectively. This, does not, however, mean that they are not as present behind the dementia as anyone else, and remembering that they are adults with adult emotions is paramount.
Effective dementia care Over the years, there have been many approaches to dementia care, including the debatable practice of reality orientation.
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However, in modern-day dementia care, there is an increasing focus on understanding the person with dementia; learning about their interests, history, and personality; and working to help them enjoy and engage in quality living, while taking into account their safety (ESRO, 2014). Rather than orientating them to reality, the focus should be on understanding where they find themselves and connecting with them there in order to understand their reality and needs.
Community dementia care Dementia in the community is an area that requires particular attention because, not only are people with dementia at higher risk of physical comorbidities that can be addressed and even cured (Bunn et al, 2014), but community nurses are in a prime position to help execute this care effectively (Mendes, 2015).What is required is for nurses to gain the generalist skills required to manage the challenging combination of a patient’s symptoms of dementia, together with their other comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease (Mendes, 2015).
Conclusion Like all patient care, the most important aspect of dementia care is a focus on the individual; getting to know them; and including considerations, such as their background, personal history, culture, gender, and religion in their care plan. All nurses, particularly those in the community who will increasingly encounter people with dementia, have a responsibility to understand the condition and understand and support their patient, as well as their family and carers. BJCN For more information about nursing and dementia, visit: http://tinyurl.com/bqm8te9. Alzheimer’s Society (2015) Dementia UK: Update. http://tinyurl.com/pom7u8q (accessed 13 May 2015) Bunn F, Burn AM, Goodman C et al (2014) Comorbidity and dementia: a scoping review of the literature. BMC Medicine 12(1): 192. doi: 10.1186/ s12916-014-0192-4 Department of Health (2013) Making a Difference in Dementia: Nursing Vision and Strategy. http://tinyurl.com/bqm8te9 (accessed 13 May 2015) ESRO (2014) A good life with dementia. http://tinyurl.com/q2dtcll (accessed 13 May 2015) Mendes da Mata A (2014) Breaking through the culture of fear in dementia care. Br J Nurs 23(7): 351 Mendes A (2015) Ten years on from the National Service Framework for LongTerm Conditions: how far have we come? British Journal of Community Nursing 20(3): 150-1 Prince M, Guerchet M, Prina M (2013) Policy Brief for the Heads of Government. The Global Impact of Dementia 2013-2050. Alzheimer’s Disease International, London. http://tinyurl.com/ptwbwvk (accessed 13 May 2015)
© 2015 MA Healthcare Ltd
D
ementia has been looming large on the radars of governments and communities around the world. As the population is ageing, resources are wearing thin for the anticipated increase in the number of people with dementia and there is still no cure. After the G8 Dementia Summit in 2013, it was revealed that 44 million people were living with dementia worldwide, and that this was expected to increase to 135 million by the year 2050 (Prince et al, 2013).The G8 nations have committed to finding a cure or a disease-modifying therapy by 2025, and in the UK, where an estimated 850 000 people live with dementia, costing £26 billion a year (Alzheimer’s Society, 2015), David Cameron launched the Prime Minister’s Challenge in 2012 and doubled the country’s funding last year to help meet this urgent global objective.
[email protected]
British Journal of Community Nursing June 2015 Vol 20, No 6
h Journal of Community Nursing. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 138.253.100.121 on December 9, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights res
Achieving effective dementia care in the community Aysha Mendes
Freelance journalist specialising in health, psychology and nursing
Nursing contribution to dementia In addition to the efforts of governments, and communities through initiatives such as Dementia Friends and creating Dementia Friendly Communities, there has been discussion about the contribution nurses can make to people living with dementia (Department of Health (DH), 2013). The word dementia is used to describe a collection of symptoms including memory loss, confusion, mood changes, and difficulty with reasoning, perception, communication and dayto-day tasks (DH, 2013). Not only can dementia be terrifying for the people who suffer from it directly, it can be devastating for the family members and carers, and can even be frightening for health professionals who are struggling to understand what their patients are going through and why they may behave in unpredictable ways (Mendes da Mata, 2014). However, it is essential for all nurses to work to overcome any fear or stigma around dementia, in order to see past the condition and through to the individual, and provide consistently compassionate and person-centred care as they would to any other patient. Dementia can cause problems with communication, making it difficult sometimes for people with the condition to tune into their emotions or express themselves effectively. This, does not, however, mean that they are not as present behind the dementia as anyone else, and remembering that they are adults with adult emotions is paramount.
Effective dementia care Over the years, there have been many approaches to dementia care, including the debatable practice of reality orientation.
308
However, in modern-day dementia care, there is an increasing focus on understanding the person with dementia; learning about their interests, history, and personality; and working to help them enjoy and engage in quality living, while taking into account their safety (ESRO, 2014). Rather than orientating them to reality, the focus should be on understanding where they find themselves and connecting with them there in order to understand their reality and needs.
Community dementia care Dementia in the community is an area that requires particular attention because, not only are people with dementia at higher risk of physical comorbidities that can be addressed and even cured (Bunn et al, 2014), but community nurses are in a prime position to help execute this care effectively (Mendes, 2015).What is required is for nurses to gain the generalist skills required to manage the challenging combination of a patient’s symptoms of dementia, together with their other comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease (Mendes, 2015).
Conclusion Like all patient care, the most important aspect of dementia care is a focus on the individual; getting to know them; and including considerations, such as their background, personal history, culture, gender, and religion in their care plan. All nurses, particularly those in the community who will increasingly encounter people with dementia, have a responsibility to understand the condition and understand and support their patient, as well as their family and carers. BJCN For more information about nursing and dementia, visit: http://tinyurl.com/bqm8te9. Alzheimer’s Society (2015) Dementia UK: Update. http://tinyurl.com/pom7u8q (accessed 13 May 2015) Bunn F, Burn AM, Goodman C et al (2014) Comorbidity and dementia: a scoping review of the literature. BMC Medicine 12(1): 192. doi: 10.1186/ s12916-014-0192-4 Department of Health (2013) Making a Difference in Dementia: Nursing Vision and Strategy. http://tinyurl.com/bqm8te9 (accessed 13 May 2015) ESRO (2014) A good life with dementia. http://tinyurl.com/q2dtcll (accessed 13 May 2015) Mendes da Mata A (2014) Breaking through the culture of fear in dementia care. Br J Nurs 23(7): 351 Mendes A (2015) Ten years on from the National Service Framework for LongTerm Conditions: how far have we come? British Journal of Community Nursing 20(3): 150-1 Prince M, Guerchet M, Prina M (2013) Policy Brief for the Heads of Government. The Global Impact of Dementia 2013-2050. Alzheimer’s Disease International, London. http://tinyurl.com/ptwbwvk (accessed 13 May 2015)
© 2015 MA Healthcare Ltd
D
ementia has been looming large on the radars of governments and communities around the world. As the population is ageing, resources are wearing thin for the anticipated increase in the number of people with dementia and there is still no cure. After the G8 Dementia Summit in 2013, it was revealed that 44 million people were living with dementia worldwide, and that this was expected to increase to 135 million by the year 2050 (Prince et al, 2013).The G8 nations have committed to finding a cure or a disease-modifying therapy by 2025, and in the UK, where an estimated 850 000 people live with dementia, costing £26 billion a year (Alzheimer’s Society, 2015), David Cameron launched the Prime Minister’s Challenge in 2012 and doubled the country’s funding last year to help meet this urgent global objective.
[email protected]
British Journal of Community Nursing June 2015 Vol 20, No 6
h Journal of Community Nursing. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 138.253.100.121 on December 9, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights res
