Living with Alzheimer’s Video Report

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Living with Alzheimer’s Video Report
The Impact of Dementia on Individuals who are Diagnosed with it Considering Multiple Aspects of the Impact
The impact of dementia has a lot of mental effects on a patient, such as psychosis, hallucinations, violence, low mood, and a lot of trouble with their day to day tasks. The changes in cognitive activities resulting from Alzheimer’s disease can frustrate a patient’s ongoing treatment (Alzheimer’s Association, 11). Examples of such cognitive changes include impaired physical functions such as balance, bladder control, swallowing, injuries from falls, and inability to communicate any discomfort or pain. Alzheimer’s can cause such disorders as cerebrovascular disease, anxiety, and depression. The impact of dementia varies between individuals, and the type of blood vessel damaged (Bowers 13). For instance, the initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s may pose severe impacts on a patient’s life and may present a broad portfolio of disbelief, fear, or grief. Patients tend to strive to deal with these emotions, which explains why their emotions change suddenly as they adjust to treatment, which, in effect, may trigger depression and anxiety in some individuals.
The Challenges that Caregivers and Families Face in Caregiving for People with Dementia
Caring for a patient with dementia is usually very difficult, and, as a result, many caregivers and families undergo high levels of depression and emotional stress. According to Alzheimer's Association (2011), the following are some of the challenges that families of patients with Alzheimer’s disorder face, they include social isolation, role reversals, financial stress, loss and grief, guilt, anger and frustration, and denial. On the other hand, caregivers also face challenges when administering their services to the patient. Some of the struggles include high levels of stress (World Health Organ, 735). Research conducted by the Working Mother Research Institute (2012) shows that caregivers report being depressed and feel overwhelmed with their duties. Further, the Working Mother Research Institute notes that the demand for their caregiving services drain them and causing a decline in their health. Lastly, chronic stress and depression resulting from dementia ca...