Culture and Caring Theory- Watsons Theory of Human CaringResponse to Managing Behavioral Disturbances in Progressive Dementia- Common Symptoms and Treatment Options Hello Jessica Kofman,

This is a great post, Jessica. Agree with you; the disturbances that come along with progressive dementia, such as memory lapses, can be managed using non-pharmacological approaches. However, in this case, approaches such as using Post-it notes and organizing the patient’s spaces can only be effective if the patient has enough and readily available social support. Additionally, the immediate social contacts and environment, such as the family, can help the dementia patient manage their life and live satisfactorily throughout their illness. Accordingly, home-cared dementia patients, even if they have access to the recommended medications, can greatly benefit from a supportive social environment such as family members or qualified social workers. According to Kims et al. (2020), social support has been shown to have an impact on depression, loneliness, and the ability to engage in activities of daily living in older adults with dementia.

Hello Darrel J,

Thank you, Darrel. This is a very informative post. As you have noted, behavioral disturbances are common and the most feared disorders accompanying progressive dementia. Most of these behavioral disorders predispose the patient and the caregiver to a lot of pressure, leading to hospitalization. I agree with you; non-pharmacological interventions should be considered before prescribing medications. Medications, due to their side effects, can worsen behavioral disturbances. Before considering whether to use non-pharmacological or any pharmacological interventions, independently or combined, it is essential to consider the predisposing and precipitating factors that influence the development of such behavioral disturbances. Understanding such factors can help structure the best-fit approach to manage such behavioral disturbances and ensure the safety of both the patient and the caregivers. According to Livingston et al. (2020), most of the risk factors for dementia and related behavioral outcomes can be modifiable. They can be prevented or delayed with cost-effective approaches that can greatly improve the quality of life for the patient and caregivers.

References

Kim, S., Choe, K., & Lee, K. (2020). Depression, loneliness, social support, activities of daily living, and life satisfaction in older adults at high risk of dementia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(24), 9448.

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., & Mukadam, N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413-446.