Search results for ‘Subject term:"alzheimers disease"’ Sort:
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What intact social cognition and social behavior reveal about cognition in the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease: a case study
- Authors:
- SABAT Steven R., GLADSTONE Caroline M.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 9(1), February 2010, pp.61-78.
- Publisher:
- Sage
While there is no doubt that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can have adverse effects on many of the ways in which the diagnosed person relates to others, the author suggests that it is not necessarily the case that cognitive dysfunction, as demonstrated by objective standard tests, directly causes deficits in social functioning. This case study describes a 74 year-old woman in the moderate stage of AD and examines her intact social cognition and healthy, appropriate social behaviour as reflected by the existence of Kitwood and Bredin’s indicators of relative well-being (listed and described in the introduction). She was observed once a week for three consecutive hours over the course of four months at an adult day centre. Notable were her affection, warmth, helpfulness and social sensitivity; the initiation of social contacts; the assertion of desire or will; self respect; and the ability to experience and express a range of emotions. These findings suggested an apparent dissociation between cognitive function as measured by standardised assessments and cognitive function as revealed in social situations. They also called into question the notions that; cognitive losses, as measured by neuropsychological tests, cause defective social behaviour; and standard tests are generalisable ways of measuring different aspects of cognitive function. The author discusses the implications of these findings for practitioners and other caregivers.
A family living with Alzheimer’s disease: the communicative challenges
- Author:
- JONES Danielle
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 14(5), 2015, pp.555-573.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Alzheimer’s disease irrevocably challenges a person’s capacity to communicate with others. Earlier research on these challenges focused on the language disorders associated with the condition and situated language deficit solely in the limitations of a person’s cognitive and semantic impairments. This research falls short of gaining insight into the actual interactional experiences of a person with Alzheimer’s and their family. Drawing on a UK data set of 70 telephone calls recorded over a two-and-a-half year period (2006–2008) between one elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease, and her daughter and son-in-law, this paper explores the role which communication (and its degeneration) plays in family relationships. Investigating these interactions, using a conversation analytic approach, reveals that there are clearly communicative difficulties, but closer inspection suggests that they arise due to the contingencies that are generated by the other’s contributions in the interaction. That being so, this paper marks a departure from the traditional focus on language level analysis and the assumption that deficits are intrinsic to the individual with Alzheimer’s, and instead focuses on the collaborative communicative challenges that arise in the interaction itself and which have a profound impact on people’s lives and relationships. (Publisher abstract)
Experiences of supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease in aged care and family environments
- Authors:
- CARLING-JENKINS Rachel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(1), March 2012, pp.54-60.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with Down syndrome have earlier onset and higher prevalence of age related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. As many as 50-70% of people with Down syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s disease by the time they are aged 60 years. The aim of this study was to report on the experiences of families and carers in seeking a diagnosis and supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. The study participants were 3 adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease who had lived all or most of their lives in the family home. For each of these participants, semi-structured interviews were held with up to 4 informants in paid and unpaid relationships with them, and this data was used to create detailed case studies. In each of the case studies, overshadowing occurred whereby services and families continued to attribute behaviour changes to the person’s Down syndrome rather than contemplating the impact of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. The families experienced stress and confusion as they negotiated a service system poorly equipped to meet their needs and professionals more focused on longstanding disability than the recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Exploring positioning in Alzheimer Disease through analyses of family talk
- Author:
- PURVIS Barbara A.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 10(1), February 2011, pp.35-58.
- Publisher:
- Sage
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease brings with it changes in interpretations and expectations of behaviours, activities and interactions for the whole family. The author suggests that, given the importance of family members in caring for persons with dementia, it is critical that the way in which a family negotiates the changes associated with dementia is better understood. Equally important are the implications of that process for both individual members and for the whole family as a unit. This case study used two complementary approaches to explore positioning in the family of a Japanese-Canadian woman with dementia. The first used interviewing to reveal how family members positioned themselves and each other in their conscious reflections about dementia. The second drew on conversation analysis to highlight how they positioned themselves and each other in their everyday conversations together. The findings are discussed in terms of: emerging roles, Rosa as a person with AD; and renegotiating long standing roles, the family cook, the grandmother. Although limited to one close knit family, the authors suggest that how it accommodated the changes affords an insight into the process and points to the need for further family-based research in this area.
Dying from dementia - a patient's journey
- Author:
- DARTINGTON Tim
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 18.10.08, 2008, pp.931-933.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
Anna Dartington developed Alzheimer's disease at the age of 54 and died at home seven years later. The author, her husband, discusses the development of her disease, the care that was provided and her death at home. The article also includes the perspectives of the palliative care physician, the psychiatrist, the occupational therapist and the views of Anna herself.
Improving the quality of care for mild to moderate dementia: an evaluation of the Croydon Memory Service Model
- Authors:
- BANERJEE Sube, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(8), August 2007, pp.782-788.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The large majority of people with dementia receive nothing in the way of specialist assessment and care at any stage of their illness. There is a particular lack of services focussed on early identification and intervention in dementia where there is the possibility of long-term harm reduction for people with dementia and their family carers. The authors have developed a model of care that is complementary to local systems of health and social care (The Croydon Memory Service Model [CMSM]). This is a low-cost, high-throughput, generic service to enable early identification and intervention in dementia. It is a multi-agency approach with joint ownership by health services, social services and the voluntary sector with embedded specifically-tailored approaches to primary care and minority ethnic communities. This article presents the findings of a service evaluation of the introduction of the CMSM in a single borough in South London. Six predefined service goals were set: high acceptability; high appropriate referral rate; successful engagement with people from minority ethnic groups; successful engagement with people with young onset dementia; focus on engagement with mild cases to enable early intervention; and an increase in the overall number of new cases of dementia seen. Mixed qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used including a description and 6-month follow-up of a cohort of 290 consecutive referrals. All key predefined service goals were met: 95% acceptability; 94% appropriate referrals; successful engagement with minority ethnic groups (two-fold greater number compared with that expected from general population demographic data); 17% of referrals under 65 years of age; 68% referrals with mild or minimal dementia severity; and an estimated 63% increase in the number of new cases of dementia seen in Croydon. At 6-month follow up, those referred to the service had decreased behavioural disturbance and increased quality of life compared with baseline. It is concluded that specific services for early dementia, which deliver diagnosis and care, can be established. These services can increase the numbers of people with early dementia identified and provided with care. Those receiving such services appear to improve in terms of quality of life and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
How does a woman with Alzheimer’s disease make sense of becoming cared for?
- Authors:
- BORLEY Gayle, SIXSMITH Judith, CHURCH Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 15(6), 2016, pp.1405-1421.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This case study explores the meaning one woman with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) gives to receiving assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) from her spouse. Improving the care of people living with AD is widely accepted as an important outcome in dementia services. Understanding how it feels for the person with AD to receive that care is essential to enhance their quality of life. Experiences identified using interpretative phenomenological analysis focus on a connection to past self and maintaining identity whilst also accepting change. The experience of ‘Sameness and Change’ identifies her feelings of discontinuity whilst ‘Goodness’ depicts her continued emotional expression of care presented in an attempt to remain someone of value within her family. These findings offer new insight and understanding to assist a woman’s transition from carer to becoming cared for. (Publisher abstract)
Family caregiving and the site of care: four narratives about end-of-life care for individuals with dementia
- Author:
- GLASS Anne P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 12(1-2), 2016, pp.23-46.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Little is known about end-of-life care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Four case studies are presented, using data collected by qualitative interviews conducted with family caregivers who were closely involved with end-of-life care for relatives with dementia. The case studies are formatted in two pairs, with one reflecting two deaths occurring at home and the other pair representing two deaths in the nursing home. The cases reveal a range of end-of-life experiences, suggesting that there is not just one “good” path. The extent of care needed, the responsiveness of the individual, the health of the caregiver(s), and the residence and support situations, can all intersect in a variety of ways that make no one scenario the answer for all. Although most people say they would prefer to die at home, in some situations the nursing home can be a satisfactory choice, particularly if hospice is involved. These narrative case studies give the reader insight into the variety of the end-of-life experiences and suggest the environment should be considered as part of the care provision. (Publisher abstract)
The results from a two-year case study of an information and communication technology support system for family caregivers
- Author:
- LUNDBERG Stephan
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 9(4), 2014, pp.353-358.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: The aim was to better understand how information and communication technology (ICT) can provide support to elderly family caregivers caring for significant others suffering from dementia or stroke. Method: Ten households equipped with an ICT system, with a family caregiver and a spouse diagnosed with dementia or stroke, were followed and observed in a two-year case study. The family caregivers had regular meetings in groups organised by the municipal care of the elderly. Data from observations, semi-structured interviews, user data from the ICT system and data about the support provided by the municipality has been used to validate the findings. Results: The family caregivers socialised with users in the group as long as the users were stayed in the group. Meetings in the group were an important opportunity for exchanging experiences and to easing one”s mind. The ICT system did not reduce the municipality”s level of services to the participating families. The information built into the system has to be constantly updated to be of interest. Conclusions: An ICT support must be provided in a context of personal meetings and with a formal caregiver backing. This will empower informal or family caregivers. Such support must give the user the possibility to communicate and get access to the Internet. Implications for Rehabilitation: 1) Benefits were obtained when informal caregivers met with a group of people with whom they share the same kind of experiences and were supported by a formal caregiver; 2) Informal caregivers need more attention and recognition; 3) ICT systems can help but must be current and maintain the users interest. (Publisher abstract)
Doll therapy: a therapeutic means to meet past attachment needs and diminish behaviours of concern in a person living with dementia: a case study approach
- Authors:
- BISIANI Leah, ANGUS Jocelyn
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 12(4), 2013, pp.447-462.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The aim of this research study was to examine the impact of the provision of a lifelike baby doll as a therapeutic tool on the behaviour of a person living with dementia. Specifically, this single case study assessed the potential benefits, if any, of the use of doll therapy in reducing behaviours of concern such as anxiety and agitation that may be associated with observed attachment needs of a person living with dementia. A single case study of a female participant, with moderately advanced Alzheimer’s disease, was the subject of this research. The case study used both qualitative and quantitative research design and methodology in data collection and analysis. Results demonstrated that doll therapy was a positive intervention for the person living with dementia who was the participant in this research. The findings indicate a reduction in behaviours of concern related to the need for attachment and a considerable decline in levels of anxiety and agitation. There was extensive ongoing improvement in social interaction and communication. (Edited publisher abstract)