Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that affects the brain. This happens over a period of time slowly affecting the daily functioning of the affected person (Potashman et al., 2023). The changes that occur during this disease process are that the brain is reduced in size slowly causing brain cells to die in a slow progression (Potashman et al., 2023). Unfortunately, based on data there is no known cause for this disorder (Potashman et al., 2023). However, research study has correlated genetics with environmental factors that could cause this disorder (Potashman et al., 2023).

Alzheimer’s disease begins with short-term memory loss suddenly forgetting recent events or conversations, as the years pass this condition gets worse (Huang et al., 2023). As this condition worsens it becomes very challenging for older adults to function or complete simple tasks such as getting dressed or brushing their teeth (Potashman et al., 2023).

However, there are medications that will slow down the process of this disorder and by this, the symptoms are also slowed down (Huang et al., 2023).

In addition to medications, there are many other ways to promote health, and well-being, and improve quality of life. For instance, patients should place meds in secure locations and arrange medications in pill separators that will keep an accurate count of what is scheduled to take (Home & Community Based Care – Aging Resources, n.d.). Also reducing mirrors in the home and having the patient wear a medical alert bracelet since images in mirrors can cause greater confusion in Alzheimer’s patients (Huang et al., 2023).

In our community in central Florida, there are many community services that can provide help to the elderly. Organizations such as elder options which provide services like Home delivery meals or personal care services such as bathing and getting dressed (Home & Community Based Care – Aging Resources, n.d.). Furthermore, the Lake County Health Department also provides many resources of volunteer groups that help the elderly in Daily activities (Leesburg Health Center, n.d.)

 

 

References

Home & community based care – aging resources. (n.d.). https://agingresources.org/services/care-at-home/

Huang, J., Song, Z., Wei, B., Li, Q., Lin, P., Li, H., & Dong, K. (2023). Immunological evaluation of patients with alzheimer's disease based on mitogen-stimulated cytokine productions and mitochondrial dna indicators. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04634-x

Leesburg health center. (n.d.). https://lake.floridahealth.gov/locations/leesburg.html

Potashman, M., Pang, M., Tahir, M., Shahraz, S., Dichter, S., Perneczky, R., & Nolte, S. (2023). Psychometric properties of the alzheimer’s disease cooperative study – activities of daily living for mild cognitive impairment (adcs-mci-adl) scale: A post hoc analysis of the adcs adc-008 trial. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03527-0

 

Adding an older Adult to your Home

 

Adding a family member to your household is difficult. However, adding an older adult could result in increased difficulty in attempting to provide all accommodations that an older person needs.

If I had the opportunity of having a grandparent moving in with us I think that the thing I would have the most difficulty with is sharing a bathroom and finding a time that I can use and they can use that would work for both of us. Since one thing that I dislike is going to shower for example to get ready for work and there is someone in the bathroom. This completely throws my day behind leading me to a bad start.

The people in my household are my parents my two sisters and I a total of 5 people.  I already have plenty of struggle timing the use of the bathroom getting my grandparent in the house would make it more difficult. There are four rooms in the house this would make my two sisters share a room so that my grandmother would have her own private area. We would also have visitors that would visit her and we would need to make space so she could spend time with her visits such as the living room. My grandmother doesn’t cook and my sisters and I would take turns along with my mother to feed her when we are available. We would also make sure we leave food in case there will be no one else in the house. Furthermore, we would also plan if she needs to go out or has doctor's appointments so that we take turns taking her. This already seems like there would be many problems with availability. These would be the accommodations to our family structure.

Furthermore, we would accommodate the home for safety such as making sure there is enough lighting in the walkways, moving trip hazards out of the way, place things in easy-to-reach places all things to make sure the home is safe (Cao et al., 2021).

Different home changes would be made depending on the arrangement of the family. For instance, if the family has children there would need to be changes based on the kids so that they are not in the way when the elderly person needs to be cared for and that the kids don’t leave toys on the floor that could become a danger for the elderly to fall (Cao et al., 2021).  Another scenario could be that the elderly are moving into a couple that has pets. Pets could be dangerous to older adults if the pet is too big and the dog causes him or her to fall (Cao et al., 2021). The elderly may be allergic to dogs or cats and they wouldn’t be able to be near each other.

A third situation an elderly person could enter is joining a family where both partners work and do not have time to care for and observe the elder person. This places the elder to be in more danger if left alone. The person could fall and require medical attention fast and no one would be available(Rand et al., 2021). Also, there would not be someone to take them to appointments if needed. The patient could struggle to prepare food or take medications if they are forgetful (Touhy DNP CNS DPNAP, Theris A. & , n.d./2020). They would be alone for most of the time placing them in danger of many things.

Ways that would solve many of these problems or make them easier is to have a designated time to shower this would prevent much-unwanted traffic unless of course there is an emergency. Pets and toys should be placed in a separate room at times when the elder person ambulates throughout the house. This would avoid unwanted falls or playful interactions with pets that could cause a fall. Providing privacy is important for the elderly this could be handled by installing an easy-to-turn lock that would facilitate ensuring privacy in their room (Rand et al., 2021).  Not overwhelming the elderly with kids is important only because they might be their grandchildren the responsibility of caring for the children should not be placed on the elderly person(Touhy DNP CNS DPNAP, Theris A. & , n.d./2020). This prevents the elderly from becoming overwhelmed and allows them to share the home in harmony and stress-free.

These are all difficult changes to make, however, it is important that all accommodations or changes in the house are safe for all family members. This will allow everyone to live happily and together as a team looking for a solution if there is ever a problem that comes up.

 

 

 

References

(n.d.). https://www.rightathome.net/-/media/images/franchises/1550-palm-beach/blog/2019/caregiver-assisting-senior-in-wheelchair.ashx

Cao, S., Huang, H., Xiao, M., Yan, L., Xu, W., Tang, X., Luo, X., & Zhao, Q. (2021). Research on safety in home care for older adults: A bibliometric analysis. Nursing Open, 8(4), 1720–1730. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.812

Rand, S., Smith, N., Jones, K., Dargan, A., & Hogan, H. (2021). Measuring safety in older adult care homes: A scoping review of the international literature. BMJ Open, 11(3), e043206. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043206

Touhy DNP CNS DPNAP, Theris A. & . (2020). Ebersole & hess' toward healthy aging - binder ready (, Ed.; 10th ed.). Mosby.