1. CONFUSION AND DEMENTIA Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.Slide 0

2. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS  Memory  Thinking and reasoning  Ability to understand  Judgment  Behavior Changes in the brain can affect these functions.

3. CONFUSION  Causes…  Acute confusion (delirium) …Causes: infection, illness, injury, drugs and surgery  Chronic: caused by physical changes

4. DEMENTIA  Loss of cognitive and social function …Caused by changes in the brain  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia  Treatment depends on the cause  Delirium: Sudden and severe confusion  Pseudodementia: resembles dementia but is actually caused by depression. Slide 3

5. EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA  recent memory loss that affects job skills  difficulty performing familiar tasks  problems with language  disorientation of time and place  poor or decreased judgment  problems with abstract thinking  misplacing things  changes in mood or behavior  changes in personality  loss of initiative Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.Slide 4

6. DEPRESSION  Depression: presents with 5 or more symptoms for at least 2 weeks  Agitation, restlessness, and irritability  Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss  Extreme difficulty concentrating  Fatigue and lack of energy  Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness  Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt  Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities, a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed  Thoughts of death or suicide  Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping Slide 5

7. OTHER TYPES AND CAUSES OF DEMENTIA  Cerebrovascular Disease  Parkinson’s Disease  Infection  Brain tumors  Stroke  Trauma and head injury Slide 6

8. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)  Many functions are affected.  Onset is gradual.  Cause is unknown.  Signs of AD… …Same as dementia Slide 7

9. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)  Behaviors …Wandering …Sundowning …Hallucinations …Delusions …Catastrophic reactions …Agitation and restlessness …Aggression and combativeness …Screaming …Abnormal sexual behaviors …Repetitive behaviors Slide 8

12. CARE OF PERSONS WITH AD AND OTHER DEMENTIAS  Person and family need support and understanding.  Comfort and safety are important.  Treat these persons with dignity and respect.  Person may need hospice care as death nears. Slide 11

13. CARE OF PERSONS WITH AD AND OTHER DEMENTIAS  Person can have other health problems or injuries.  Person needs to feel useful, worthwhile, and active.  Focus on long-term care …Special care units Slide 12

14. CARE OF PERSONS WITH AD AND OTHER DEMENTIAS  Family may choose: …Home health care …Adult daycare …Long-term care …AD support groups Slide 13

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