Dementia can be defined as cognitive disorders and memory that can affect daily activities. People with dementia often show some disruption and changes in daily behavior (behavioral symptoms) that interfere (disruptive) or do not disturb (non-disruptive), (Volicer, L., Hurley, A.C., Mahoney, E. 1998). Grayson (2004) states that dementia is not a common disease, but rather a collection of symptoms caused some specific disease or condition causing personality change and behavior.
Fifty to sixty percent of the causes of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Alzhaimer is a condition in which nerve cells in the brain die so as to make the signal from the brain can not be transmitted properly (Grayson, C. 2004). People with Alzheimer's disease impaired memory, ability to make decisions and also a decrease in the thinking process.
Symptoms of patients with dementia is a change in personality and behavior that affect daily activities. What is meant is the elderly to age sixty-five years and above. Elderly people with dementia do not show a prominent symptom in the early stages, they as well as the elderly in general are aging and degenerative. Initial awkwardness felt by the patient themselves, they have difficulty remembering names of their grandchildren or forget to put a good.
They often hide it and convince himself that it was a regular thing at their age. Similar confusion being felt by those closest living together, they are concerned about memory loss is increasingly becoming, but once again the family feel that the elderly may be exhausted and need more rest. They do not suspect a big problem behind memory loss experienced by their parents.
The next dementia symptoms appear usually in the form of depression in the elderly, they keep a distance with the environment and more sensitive. Such a condition can only be followed by the emergence of other diseases and usually will aggravate the Elderly. At this time the elderly may be very frightened even to hallucinate. This is where the family took Elderly dementia patients to the hospital where dementia is not the main thing to focus inspection.
In advanced stages of dementia led to a change in behavior that is increasingly worrying, so essential for a good understanding of family behavioral changes experienced by elderly people with dementia. Understanding behavioral changes in dementia can bring empathy that is needed by family members who have the patience to take care of them. Changes in behavior (behavioral symptoms) that can occur in elderly patients with dementia of which are delusions, hallucinations, depression, damage to bodily functions, anxiety, spatial disorientation, inability to take any meaningful action, can not perform daily activities independently, fight, anger, agitation, apathy, and fled from the residence (Volicer, L., Hurley, AC, Mahoney, E. 1998).
Nursing Assessment for Dementia
- Fostering a relationship of trust with patients
To carry out a review of nursing in patients with dementia, first you must build a trusting relationship with patients.
In order to foster a trusting relationship, things can be done as follows :- Always saying hello to the patient such as: good morning / afternoon / evening / night or according to the religious context of the patient.
- Introduce your name (nickname), including a report that relatives are nurses who will care for patients.
- Also ask the patient's name and his favorite nickname.
- Explain your goals and patient care activities to be performed.
- Explain when the activities will be implemented and how long the activity.
- Be empathetic manner :
- Sit with the patient, make eye contact, give a touch and show concern
- Speak slowly, simply and give the patient time to think and respond
- Nurses have the expectation that patients would be better
- Be warm, simple to express hope in patients.
- Use short sentences, clear, simple and easy to understand.
- Speak slowly, say the word or phrase that is clear and wait for a response if asked patients
- Ask one question each time and re-asked questions with the same words.
- Volume increased if there is hearing loss, if the volume is increased, the tone should be subdued.
- The attitude of non-verbal communication coupled with good verbal.
- Attitudes have to communicate face to face, maintain eye contact, relax and open up.
- Create a therapeutic environment when communicating with patients :
- Very quiet
- The room comfortable, light and ventilation adequate
- The distance is adjusted, to minimize disruption.
