Week 3 Flashcards
(14 cards)
Dementia
Dementia is a progressive neurological condition that impairs memory, language, perception, personality, and cognition.
Early: Mood swings, forgetfulness, reduced initiative.
Moderate: Unsafe behaviour, confusion, poor hygiene.
Late: Severe dependency, speech loss, unresponsiveness.
Dementia VS Delirium
Dementia: Gradual onset, alert, consistent.
Delirium: Sudden onset, fluctuating consciousness, easily distracted, often reversible
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for dementia
Involves significant decline in 1 or more cognitive domains (attention, memory, language, executive function, perceptual-motor, social cognition) that interfere with independence in daily life.
Symptoms of dementia
- progressive decline in memory, language, perception, personality, and cognition.
- Emotional changes: mood swings, apathy, and personality changes.
- Physical impacts in later stages: loss of motor function, difficulty swallowing, and dependency in ADLs.
- Cognitive decline: impairs executive function, problem-solving, and memory, affecting independence.
Alzheimer’s disease (most common)
build up of plaques and tangles in the brain; gradual, progressive memory and language loss.
Vascular dementia
Related to reduced blood flow due to strokes or TIAs; often stepwise decline.
Lewy body dementia
Includes hallucinations, movement issues, fluctuating cognition.
Frontotemporal dementia
Affects personality, behaviour, and language; younger onset.
How care for and supporting a person with dementia may impact family members
Emotional toll: Grief, exhaustion, depression, and fear.
Role strain: Shifts in family roles and dynamics.
Social isolation and loss of shared experiences.
Importance of carer support and respite options.
Community support services available to support clients with dementia
- Home care packages provide funded care support (Eg. transport, meal prep, home modifications).
- PCAs support personal hygiene, mobility, and companionship.
- Community resources: Dementia Australia, carer respite programs, memory clinics, Alzheimer’s support groups.
- OTs often assist with care planning, referrals, and advocacy.
- CDAMs - Cognitive dementia and memory service assess memory difficulties and assist clients and families to access appropriate advice and services if dementia is diagnosed.
Identify and describe key issues in the environment
- Environmental adaptations: Clear signage, contrast colours, reducing noise/clutter, lighting.
- Safety modifications: Remove hazards, secure exits, use alarms if wandering is a risk.
- Create structured, predictable spaces to reduce confusion.
Use the MOHO concept of habituation and roles to inform assessment planning
Habituation: Dementia disrupts established roles/routines
OT assessments focus on previous roles and routines, evaluating how dementia affects role fulfilment.
Interventions aim to maintain meaningful roles through adaptive strategies.
cognitive screening assessments for older people with suspected memory impairment
- MMSE: Screens orientation, attention, recall (brief, widely used).
- MoCA: Detects mild cognitive impairment; max score 30, <26 = impaired.
- RUDAS: Culturally sensitive screening tool; max score 30, ≤23 = impaired.
- OCS: Stroke-specific, also useful in dementia (memory, attention, language, praxis)
Describe how a person’s culture might influence functioning in an older person with cognitive decline
Language and communication style
Perception of memory loss and dementia
Acceptability of outside care
Willingness to seek diagnosis
Assessment tools like RUDAS are more suitable for culturally and linguistically diverse clients.
OTs must consider cultural norms, dietary preferences, and family roles when planning care.
