Sunday, March 27, 2011

Nursing Care Plans for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease - Nursing Care Plans for Alzheimer's Disease


Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.

AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease.

No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.

NIH: National Institute on Aging


Nursing Care Plans for Alzheimer's Disease


Nursing Assessment
  1. Activity / rest
    Symptoms: feeling melting / tired
    Signs: anxiety, helplessness, disruption
    Lethargy sleep patterns and impaired motor skills

  2. Circulation
    Symptoms: History of cerebral vascular disease / systemic, hypertension, embolic episodes

  3. Ego integrity
    Symptoms: suspicious or afraid of the situation / person fantasies, misperceptions of the environment, loss of multiple.
    Signs: hide incompetence, sit and watch the other, the first activity may accumulate objects are not moving and emotionally stable

  4. Elimination
    Symptoms: The urge to urinate
    Signs: Incontinence of urine / feaces

  5. Food / fluid
    Symptoms: Historical episodes of hypoglycemia, changes in taste, appetite, weight loss.
    Signs: loss of ability to chew, avoiding / refusing to eat and looked increasingly thin.

  6. Hygiene
    Symptoms: Need help, depending on other people
    Signs: a lack of personal habits, forget to go to the bathroom and less interested in eating time

  7. Neuro Sensory
    Symptoms: Improvement of existing symptoms, especially cognitive changes,
    a history of cerebral vascular disease / systemic as well as seizure activity

  8. Comfort
    Symptoms: A history of serious head trauma, accident trauma
    Signs: ekimosis laceration and a sense of hostile / attack others

  9. Social Integrity
    Symptoms: Feeling lost power
    Signs: Loss of social control, inappropriate behavior.

No comments:

Post a Comment