Participation in the Virtual Dementia Lab How Participation in the Virtual Dementia Lab will Impact Care of Patients with Cognitive Impairment

Participating in the Virtual Dementia Lab will have a substantial and long-term impact on my management of individuals with cognitive impairment. This intensive experience will improve my ability to empathize with and comprehend the daily hardships of people with Dementia. As a result, I will approach each patient contact with heightened compassion and understanding, noting the sensory issues they may be experiencing. This newfound insight will motivate me to adjust and tailor my care tactics to meet their individual needs, delivering a more dignified and comfortable experience. Furthermore, the Virtual Dementia Lab will provide me with practical knowledge and solutions that I will actively incorporate into my caring approach. I will proactively modify the care environment to reduce sensory overstimulation, making it more conducive to the comfort of dementia patients.

I will use effective communication approaches that take into account their changed auditory perception and cognitive limitations, resulting in clearer and more meaningful encounters. Managing concerns such as olfactory hallucinations, changes in taste, and touch sensitivities will improve the overall quality of life (Mahmut Said Değerli & Onur Altuntaş, 2023). Finally, this experience will allow me to deliver more comprehensive and person-centered treatment to individuals with cognitive impairment. I will make every effort to address their bodily needs and recognize and nurture their emotional well-being. I am convinced that by adopting the Virtual Dementia Lab’s lessons, I will contribute to increasing the overall quality of life and comfort of my patients as they navigate the obstacles of Dementia.

Self-Reflection on How My Daily Life Would Change if I Had Dementia

My daily life would undergo substantial and difficult adjustments if I were suddenly diagnosed with Dementia. One of the most immediate effects would be on my everyday activities. Simple duties like dressing, cooking, and maintaining personal hygiene would become progressively impossible to manage independently (Amato et al., 2021). I may struggle to remember the sequence of steps in these activities, resulting in frustration and possibly ignoring important self-care. Basic daily chores would take more time and effort, potentially forcing me to rely largely on caretakers or family members for assistance. Getting about my house would also become a difficult and potentially dangerous task. Dementia frequently impairs spatial awareness as well as the ability to recognize familiar settings (Fernanda, 2023). As a result, I may become disoriented within my own home, regularly becoming lost or confused about my location. Safety steps such as installing locks on doors to prevent roaming or removing potential risks such as sharp objects or toxic substances would be required to reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Another noticeable difference would be in my speech and social relationships. Memory loss and trouble processing information would make conversing and maintaining relationships difficult. I might forget the names and faces of loved ones, struggle to follow the flow of a conversation or repeat the same stories or questions. This would very certainly result in emotions of isolation and frustration as I became more aware of my cognitive impairment. Furthermore, my financial management would suffer as handling money and making informed financial decisions became increasingly difficult, potentially jeopardizing my financial security. I’d also require continuous reminders and help to remember essential appointments, meds, and daily duties, which would undermine my sense of freedom and autonomy. Finally, I would experience the emotional toll of recognizing the slow loss of my cognitive abilities, which would result in feelings of frustration, anxiety, and loss as I grappled with the changes in my everyday life.

References

Amato, C., Burridge, G., Basic, D., Huynh, D., Gibbons, E., Ní Chróinín, D., & Liu, K. P. Y. (2021). Assistance provided in daily tasks and difficulty experienced by caregivers for people living with Dementia. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12720

Fernanda, M. de A. (2023). Design for Health – Creating supportive environments for people living with Dementia. Pea.lib.pte.hu. http://pea.lib.pte.hu/handle/pea/35001