Dementia

Essay by paonUniversity, Master'sB+, October 2008

download word file, 2 pages 3.7

Parisa Lakithe emphasis of palliative care is on flexibility in order tomeet individual needs, using person-centred planning. Indeed, being willing to respondflexibly to the unique needs of each individual is the cornerstone of high quality carethroughout the dementia journey. What is Terminal Dementia?Some general groups of symptoms and behaviours have been identified that can signifythe terminal phase for a person with dementia (Shuster 2000) (Abbey 2003):There is often a progressive worsening of memory resulting in increased confusionand disorientation;Speech and the ability to communicate often deteriorate to the point where theperson may eventually become incoherent or completely mute;Behavioural changes may occur which can lead to a person being belligerent,Sobbing or screaming, or strikingly passive and quiet, immobile and detached;The person's ability or desire to move independently can decline, leaving thembed/chair bound;The person's capacity for self-care progressively diminishes, making them totallydependent on carers;The person's ability to eat independently gradually disappears, often in associationwith a diminished ability to swallow and increased risk of aspiration.

A progressiveloss of appetite almost always follows; andOther complications can include bowel and bladder incontinence, muscle atrophy andcontractures, increased susceptibility to delirium, recurrent infections, pneumonia,pain, peripheral shutdown, bed sores and general skin breakdown. Delirium canresult in increased restlessness and agitation.

The appearance and prominence of these symptoms will vary between individualsbecause of differing disease processes, individual differences and co-existing conditionssuch as cardiac failure, diabetes or cancer. (Dementia 1) enduring power of attorney for financial assault and could be liable to civil or criminal sanctity acquaintance spurDyspnea is one of the most common symptoms reported by patients receiving palliative care. It is not only a symptom of severe or chronic pulmonary disease, but is also associated with a wide variety of illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, and dementia, as well as neurologic disorders such as cerebral vascular accidents, amyotrophic...