Mental Health in the Community
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Mental Health in the Community
The elderly population is susceptible to numerous health problems, including mental health disorders that affect their general wellbeing within society. One of the most common disorders in the aging population is dementia disorder which most develops as a person ages. According to McGill (2017), dementia affects more than 47.6 million people globally, with the majority of the patients being the elderly. The condition is characterized by recent memory loss, communication problems, difficulties in completing key tasks, misplacing things, and general disorientation. Due to the recent loss of memory, the patient can be asking the same questions repeatedly, which can be a problem to the people around them. Most people who live with elderly people suffering from dementia tend to avoid them because they are bothersome. The high levels of memory loss may subject the elderly to a lonely environment with family members and non-contracted caregivers abandoning them. The challenge of completing some of the familiar tasks makes them risky to live with. Some of the tasks such as cooking may endanger the lives of the elderly patients, and thus a great caution should be taken when assigning them some basic tasks. According to Whitely (2021), dementia may cause the patient to be aggressive, abusive, and poor. Generally, the elderly population with dementia may be challenging to live with but requires medical intervention and key skills in reducing the condition.
Dementia patients can be assisted through various interventions. Some of the medications that can be used in controlling the effects of dementia as well as improving the memory of the patient include Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine. Memantine can be prescribed to the patient boosting the brain functions such as memory and learning (Mayo Clinic, 2019). These medications can help the patient from excessive impacts of the disorder and improving brain functionality. Another intervention that a nurse can use in improving the quality of life of the dementia patient is involving the caregivers and family members in the education program for effective management of patients. The caregivers and family members should be trained in modifying the environment for the patient by avoiding clutter and noise. The patient should also be trained on simplifying the tasks for the elderly people in avoiding agitation and levels of aggressiveness due to the feeling of being a failure. The education to the caregivers and medication to the patient will help general care and integrate the dementia patient into the community.
Mental Health in the Community
References
MacGill, M. (2017, December 1). Dementia: Symptoms, stages, and types. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214#dementia_symptoms
Mayo Clinic. (2019, April 19). Dementia – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352019
Whitley, M. (2021, April 19). Managing Dementia Behaviors: Do’s and Don’ts from Experts. A Place for Mom. https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/dementia-behaviors