Patients With Alzheimer s Disease - 1018 Words

I would advocate for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. According to Burns and Iliffe (2009), Alzheimer’s is a â€Å"chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder† that is characterized primarily by symptoms of memory loss (p. 467). Those affected with this disorder often have behavioral and psychiatric disturbances and problems with activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s disease destroys the nerve cells and tissues in the brain; in advanced stages, the brain shrinks a drastic amount. The Alzheimer’s Association (n.d.) states that this disease â€Å"remains one of the most critical public health issues in America.† Alzheimer’s patients’ overall health is at risk. Because this disease affects the brain, several cognitive functions are†¦show more content†¦According to Hoyert and Rosenberg (1997), Alzheimer’s â€Å"complicates [the] treatment of other medical conditions† (p. 112). Patient’s behavior is sometimes unpredictable, which can make it difficult for health care providers to provide quality care. The patient may be willing to participate in a particular health related action and then suddenly be very resistant. It may be hard for healthcare providers to create a health plan that patients will consistently follow. Patients with Alzheimer’s may also forget to take a medication that may be necessary to the treatment of illness. Alzheimer’s patients overall sense of well-being is also at risk. According to Burkhardt Nathaniel (2007), dementia â€Å"often causes emotion, relational, and financial strain for the [patients and] ca regivers† (p. 436). Caring for patients with dementia can be very stressful, and if families feel that they cannot properly care for the affected patient, they may send them to a long-term care facility. Burns and Iliffe (2009) suggest that sudden changes in the living environment can agitate behavioral symptoms of the disease. The patient is then at an increased risk for feelings of â€Å"social isolation† (Burkhardt Nathaniel, 2007, p. 436) and depression (Burns Iliffe, 2009, p. 471). When I was a young child, I saw the effects of this illness on my entire family as my great-grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s. In high school, I volunteered at a nursing home in the Alzheimer’s and