Alzheimer’s Disease, Impacts on Family and Role of Nurses

Alzheimer’s Disease, Impacts on Family and Role of Nurses in Caring for Patients.

1. What impact do you think Alzheimer’s Disease has on the patient’s family and/or caregivers?

Alzheimer’s Disease just like most chronic diseases comes with adverse effects to the patient’s family and/or caregivers.  A spouse will mostly experience strong emotions and empathy towards their significant other. The thought of their loved ones losing all the memories they shared is overwhelming and difficult to accept. The feelings might escalate to anger and resentment but grief and loss are inevitable. Time heals the heart but this is not what transpires in such cases; the grief and empathy for their loved ones are renewed each day. This repetition results in ‘The second patient' who is the caregiver due to the responsibilities placed upon them.

2. How did it make you feel personally when you watched these videos?

Watching "Dementia- Catching the Memory Thief" video gave me hope for a better future. The research being carried out by professor Giovanna Mallucci and her counterparts in the University of Cambridge on the misfolding of proteins will help understand how they contribute to the death of brain cells. The genetic tweaks and the discovery of the right compounds will be instrumental to the control of Alzheimer’s disease ("Dementia: Catching the memory thief", 2019).

Watching "Barbara's Story" was overwhelming and seeing the pain that Anna was going through made it even more touching. The look on Barbara’s eyes when the doctor breaks the bad news to her symbolizes the video’s theme ("Barbara, the whole story", 2019). The fact that she needs a photo to recognize Anna is heartbreaking. The story makes one want to treat patients of Alzheimer’s Disease with more care and love.

3. Have you had any personal experience with Alzheimer’s Disease in your own family or friends? How did it affect your family?

I have not had a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease but a close friend of my folks was a patient. As a family, we noted a gradual deterioration in our engagements with their family but took the initiative to be present for them. I was happy to help when I was called upon but despite the fight, she passed on a few months later.

4. What do you think a nurse could do to promote optimal care for these patients?

The demand for nurses when it comes to providing optimal care for patients with Alzheimer's Disease is growing daily. The nurse should encourage patients to exercise on a regular basis so as to improve their cognitive abilities. They can also volunteer to implement and supervise these activities. Nurses should also encourage socialization so as to eliminate the possibilities of low self-esteem. Optimal care also requires nurses to be flexible when meeting the patient’s needs and ensure that the hospital feels like home.

References

Barbara, the whole story. (2019). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DtA2sMAjU_Y?t=5

Dementia: Catching the memory thief. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTv_1V-WPfE