Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause memory loss and changes in a person’s cognitive abilities. Plaques and tangles in particular are responsible for damaging and killing nerve cells. Abnormal levels of a protein called beta-amyloid builds up in the spaces between nerve cells forming plaques and accumulation of tau inside neurons can form tangles that disrupts cell function and blocks communication between other neurons (Touhy & Jett, 2020). Many areas of the brain eventually become damaged and overtime a person with Alzheimer’s disease gradually loses their ability to function independently. Furthermore, there are several risk factors associated with this condition such as genetics, environmental factors, head injuries, increasing age, and vascular diseases like hypertension and hyperlipidemia (Breijyeh et al., 2020).

(UrgentTeam, n.d.)

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can progress slowly. It may start off as having trouble remembering things then overtime it can worsen to the point where a person can’t take care of themselves. Memory loss, difficulty in word-finding, impaired reasoning, changes in personality and behavior are all symptoms that can be expressed with Alzheimer’s (Pinyopornpanish et al., 2022). As the symptoms begin to worsen overtime some may experience major confusion about what’s happened in the past verses what’s happening now, they may develop problems with swallowing, controlling their bladder or bowels, and have a hard time moving around.

There are pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies that can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine are medications that can be used to slow cognitive decline and can control difficulties in behavior (Touhy & Jett, 2020). These medications can help improve a person’s quality of life and help them function a little longer. A non-pharmacological treatment such as reality orientation can help improve an individual’s orientation to time and place.

(Medical News Today, n.d.)

There are strategies that can promote a person’s health, well-being, and quality of life while having Alzheimer’s disease. One specific strategy would be to exercise regularly and be involved in activities such as walking and swimming. Building muscle and performing balance exercises can keep the brain healthy and prevent falls or head injuries (HelpGuide, 2022). Another strategy is to be socially engaged with people by joining a group or volunteering. As older adults age they may become isolated which can lead to depression and other mental health issues. Therefore, it’s important to connect with people and maintain relationships. A third strategy would be to eat a healthy diet by decreasing the amount of sugar consumed and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, it is healthier to cook home-made meals than buying fast food that is high in sodium and fat. Keeping yourself mentally stimulated is a strategy that helps maintain cognitive functioning. Learning a new language or instrument can stimulate the brain. Also, playing strategy games and puzzles such as Scrabble or Sudoku can give the brain a good mental workout. Another strategy to promote a person’s health and well-being is to get enough sleep at night. Sleep deprivation can further deteriorate an individual with Alzheimer’s, so creating a sleep schedule is essential.  

There are local services and resources available to help with individuals and families coping with Alzheimer's disease such as Granny Nannies and Crane’s View Lodge. The first service provides short-term or long-term care to older adults with Alzheimer’s and can assist with mobility, meal preparation and much more (Granny Nannies, n.d.). Granny Nannies is located at 1150 West Minneola Ave., Clermont, FL, 34711. The contact information and website are 352-536-2511 and https://grannynannies.com/Clermont/Services/Alzheimers-Care. Crane’s View Lodge is an assisted living facility that cares for seniors with cognitive impairments in a unit called Memory Care. They provide a comfortable and stimulating environment for these seniors and help with activities of daily living (Crane’s View Lodge Senior Living, n.d.). It is located at 1601 Hooks St, Clermont, FL 34711. The contact information and website are 352-432-1515 and https://www.allegroliving.com/cranes-view-lodge-clermont.html.

Alzheimer’s disease can definitely affect a person’s daily life and how they interact with others. It is important to understand the effects Alzheimer’s has on the brain, the symptoms and treatments involved, and the strategies used to promote health, well-being, and quality of life. Furthermore, there are resources available to those that need some extra help with their condition.

References

Breijyeh, Z., Karaman, R., Muñoz-Torrero, D., & Dembinski, R. (2020). Comprehensive review on alzheimer’s disease: Causes and treatment. Molecules, 25(24), 5789. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25245789

Crane’s View Lodge Senior Living. (n.d.). Crane’s view lodge – Clermont. https://www.allegroliving.com/cranes-view-lodge-clermont.html#living-panel2

Granny Nannies. (n.d.). Alzheimer's home care clermont. https://grannynannies.com/Clermont/Services/Alzheimers-Care

HelpGuide. (2022, September 2). Preventing alzheimer’s disease and dementia—or slowing its progress. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/preventing-alzheimers-disease.htm

Medical News Today. (n.d.). Aerobic exercise may be key for alzheimer's prevention. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320770

Pinyopornpanish, K., Soontornpun, A., Wongpakaran, T., Wongpakaran, N., Tanprawate, S., Pinyopornpanish, K., Nadsasarn, A., & Pinyopornpanish, M. (2022). Impact of behavioral and psychological symptoms of alzheimer’s disease on caregiver outcomes. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18470-8

Touhy, T.A., & Jett, K. (2020). Ebersole & hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (10th ed.). Elsevier.

UrgentTeam. (n.d.). Determining alzheimer’s symptoms. https://www.urgentteam.com/healthy-living-tips/determining-alzheimers-symptoms/

How to Prepare for an Older Adult Becoming a New Member of the Household

Many families may need to prepare for an older adult such as their parent or grandparent to become a new member in the household. The main thing that would bother me if I needed to share my home with my grandma on a long-term basis would be having to constantly be aware of what she’s doing. My grandma has Alzheimer’s, and she is currently living in her own home with my grandpa. However, she tends to wander and has gotten lost several times after leaving the house when my grandpa wasn’t watching her. One time she almost started a fire because she forgot she was cooking something and left the stove on. Therefore, if she was living with me I would need to constantly check on her to ensure she was safe. My family structure consists of my mom and dad who are married and in their 50s. Then there’s my younger brother and I who are in our 20s and living with our parents. Our structure would be considered a nuclear family because it consists of two parents and two children. In order to accommodate my grandma’s condition my family would need to arrange our schedules so at least one person could be at home at any given time to provide care and supervision. We would also need to monitor the medications she takes and provide transportation for her if she needed to go anywhere like a doctor’s appointment.

(Mind Help, n.d.)

One family structure that is different than mine is the single-parent family which may have occurred from divorce or a spouse passing away. A household with only one parent who has all the responsibility of managing the family would find it difficult to add another family member who needs to be taken care of. It can be challenging for a single parent to have so many responsibilities of running a household which can lead to decrease in health and well-being (Van Gasse & Mortelmans, 2020). A single parent is already doing their best to raise their children on their own and to have an older adult stay with them will create more stress. Another family structure is the childless family which consist of a couple who never had children. If they needed to take in their parent or grandparent they would be in a better position to care for them because that couple would have greater financial stability. However, it may create a conflict regarding privacy between the couple and older adult. A third family structure would be an extended family which consists of the parents, older adult children, and their children living together. It may be easier to share the responsibility of taking care of the new family member coming to stay. However, there may be issues regarding space because there are already so many people living in one household.

 

(Psych Hub, 2020)

There are many issues all families need to consider when adding an older adult to the household. There are questions to ask and consider such as will the environment be safe for a new family member and where will the older adult be staying (Touhy & Jett, 2020)? The environment may not have enough lighting for an elderly person to navigate or there may be too much clutter that could pose as a tripping hazard. Also, in a household there may not be enough rooms to accommodate everyone, so someone may have to share. Modifications would need to be made in order to adjust to having an older adult in the household. The family can clean up the clutter by removing loose wires and throw rugs. They can add night lights throughout the house so the older adult can see better. When it comes to sharing a living space the family can designate a room or have that person share a bedroom with someone they’re comfortable with. 

There are several potential areas of conflict that can occur during this transition. One conflict area would be an increase in expenses due to needing more food and clothing for the older adult. Another area of conflict would be sharing the responsibilities and completing household tasks. One person shouldn’t have to be the only one performing all the chores in the house. There are ways to decrease areas of conflict such as having the older adult pay for some expenses. They may pay a set amount such as one-hundred or two-hundred dollars each month depending on how much they can afford to give. Also, they may choose to pay a specific bill like the lighting or gas. However, this area of conflict has the potential for elder abuse to occur. A family member could financially abuse the older adult by using the money given for their own pleasure or taking money without permission and the elderly person would not report them out of fear (West et al., 2021). Therefore, it's important for others to understand the signs of abuse and to report them immediately. Another way to decrease an area of conflict is to have everyone in the household share the responsibility of completing tasks. The older person could set the table before every meal or fold clothes after the laundry is finished.

There are local services and resources that can facilitate the transition such as Clermont Senior Services and Granny Nannies of Clermont. The first service has a support group where caregivers can meet. They also provide respite care and adult day care (Clermont Senior Services, n.d.). The second service has many home care resources a caregiver can utilize (Granny Nannies, n.d.). The contact information and website for Clermont Senior Services are 513-724-1255, info@clermontseniors.com, and https://clermontseniors.com/services/caregiver-support/. The contact information and website for Granny Nannies of Clermont are 352-536-2511 and https://grannynannies.com/Clermont/Home-Care-Resources. 

References 

Clermont Senior Services (n.d.). Caregiver support. https://clermontseniors.com/services/caregiver-support/

Granny Nannies. (n.d.). Home care resources. https://grannynannies.com/Clermont/Home-Care-Resources

Mind Help. (n.d.). Types of family dynamics. https://mind.help/topic/family-dynamics/types/

Psych Hub. (2020, August 26). New to caregiving. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3g0oxMqUbo

Touhy, T.A., & Jett, K. (2020). Ebersole & hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Van Gasse, D., & Mortelmans, D. (2020). Reorganizing the single‐parent family system: exploring the process perspective on divorce. Family Relations, 69(5), 1100–1112. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12432

West, A., Cawley, C., Crow, E., Stoner, A. M., Fadel, N. M., Ford-Scales, K., & Cheng, N. (2021). The impact of an educational program on medical students’ knowledge and awareness of elder abuse. Journal of Medical Education & Curricular Development, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1177/23821205211016487

Boxtox Injections

The aging process causes physical changes in the body that many older adults have difficulty accepting. Age-related changes such as decrease in vision, loss of hearing, and loss of elasticity in the skin occur overtime. Furthermore, it may become difficult for older adults to sleep, ambulate, or maintain adequate hydration (Touhy & Jett, 2020). As people age they have an increased chance of developing chronic conditions that affect their overall health. While some may look at these changes in a positive way, others may have feelings of fear and denial. Therefore, they may look for a product or treatment that can avoid these physiological changes.

(Fischer & Aungst, 2022)

Botox injections is a procedure used to reduce the amount of wrinkles in the face. This can be appealing to older adults who want to have a younger appearance. People can determine the validity of claims of Botox injections by researching its effectiveness at reducing wrinkles. Botox injections have become a common cosmetic procedure with almost three million injections being administered per year (Witmanowski & Błochowiak, 2020). Millions of people have had successful results and find it safe and effective. However, there are side effects such as bruising that can last for weeks to months, which is why doctors ask patients to stop medications like aspirin beforehand (Saroya et al., 2021). Older adults should especially be careful because they may be taking medications like Eliquis to treat health conditions such as atrial fibrillation. Other side effects include pain, swelling, and drooping of the eyelids.

A consumer would find out these things by researching the procedure or asking people that they know who have had it done. Detailed articles and websites that end in .edu or .org can provide valuable information that is reliable. The persuasive influence of testimonials is used by people who have gotten Botox injections and are able to give others a review on the procedure. There may be patients that had a great experience and did not have any side effects. However, the Botox injections may not have worked for other individuals, or they suffered from major side effects. The research and science explains how the procedure works and the different aspects involved with receiving it. It elaborates on the mechanism of action, the specific facial muscles it targets, and the potential side effects. A person can differentiate testimonials from research by understanding that a testimonial is based off of someone’s opinion which is biased, and research is based off of science which is factual.

Botox injections are subjected to regulations in the United States. Since, it is a prescription medication it can only be administered by a healthcare professional (Aesthetics & Medical Blog, n.d.). Therefore, practitioners need to have a license before performing the procedure or else they will be in violation of the law. I do support older adults who decide to receive Botox injections. The procedure has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2002 and is considered safe and effective at reducing wrinkles (Cheng, 2007). It can improve a person’s quality of life and help them feel confident as they continue to grow older. The nurse should address the patient’s emotional response to getting Botox injections by promoting the health of the skin. Older adults face many age-related changes in the skin such as decrease in thickness, loss of stretch and elasticity, and decrease of sebum production (Touhy & Jett, 2020). Therefore, when receiving the procedure, the nurse should educate the patient on side effects to look for because older adults are more at risk due to how delicate their skin is. Also, they should understand how to perform regular examinations on their skin. Many older adults will have a positive emotional response to getting Botox injections because their appearance has changed to help them look younger. The nurse can validate their feelings and encourage them to take care of the skin properly.

(Sadati, 2019)

References 

Aesthetics & Medical Blog. (n.d.). What are the botox® laws by state?. Empire Medical Training. https://www.empiremedicaltraining.com/blog/what-are-the-botox-laws-by-state/

Cheng, C. M. (2007, March). Cosmetic use of botulinum toxin type A in the elderly. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684082/

Fischer, K. & Aungst, C. (2022, May 20). How Much Does Botox Cost?. GoodRx Health. https://www.goodrx.com/botox/how-much-does-botox-cost

Sadati, K. (2019, August 12). Dr. Sadati transforms 71 year old woman with lower face and neck lift and restylane lyft filler [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vnvdX8_WOQ

Saroya, K. K., Singh, K., Sethi, N., & Kaur, S. (2021). Botox- the wonder poisonous healer. Journal of Dental Specialities, 9(2), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jds.2021.015

Touhy, T.A., & Jett, K. (2020). Ebersole & hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Witmanowski, H., & Błochowiak, K. (2020). The whole truth about botulinum toxin - a review. Advances in Dermatology & Allergology / Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 37(6), 853–8611. https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2019.82795