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Palliative care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss, impaired judgment, and impaired ability to reason are the hallmark symptoms of dementia. This could indicate that you are unable to recognize your surroundings or persons who are familiar to you.
It could also mean that you are unable to find the appropriate phrases or complete specific tasks. Age is the single most important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-diseaseh.gov)); nevertheless, the disease can strike persons as young as sixty years old.
Alzheimer’s disease is a gradual and fatal brain disorder that impairs not only memory but also the ability to think clearly, solve problems, perform routine jobs, tell time, and see well. Because of the chronic nature of the disease, symptoms may not develop until a person is in their mid-60s, but the disease may persist for the rest of their lives.
Because there is now no treatment that can reverse the effects of the condition, sufferers will constantly require further assistance. However, palliative care for Alzheimer’s is an example of one of these available options for the patient. WHO describes palliative care as “used early in illness, in concert with other life-prolonging interventions.”
Palliative care is a specific form of medical treatment that is offered to patients who are coping with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this, it is extremely beneficial not only to the patient, but also to the patient’s family.
Alzheimer’s disease is a tremendously stressful condition for everyone involved, from the person who has the disease to their family members. Because there is now no treatment that can reverse the effects of the disease, patients will require increasingly high levels of care and assistance as their condition worsens.
Palliative care can be helpful for those dealing with the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
The term “palliative care,” pronounced “pal-lee-uh-tiv,” refers to a type of specialist medical treatment for patients who are coping with life-threatening conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of this exercise is to make your life, as well as the lives of your loved ones, more enjoyable. You are able to receive palliative care regardless of your age or the stage your sickness is currently in. It is also possible to have it in conjunction with curative treatment.
Palliative care is administered by a team of medical professionals, nurses, social workers, and other experts who are properly educated to give this type of care. These professionals collaborate with your primary care physicians to offer you an additional level of support as part of the palliative care process.
Involving a team that provides palliative care can be beneficial in a number of different ways. Palliative care treats Alzheimer’s symptoms including melancholy, anxiety, and sleeplessness. The team is also able to provide guidance on recognizing and avoiding situations that may precipitate undesirable behavioral changes.
Maintaining a routine is one of the most important tactics utilized in the process of organizing your daily care. The use of your brain can also be improved by activities such as exercising your body and going to memory therapy sessions. A tranquil and quiet setting, adequate lighting to reduce shadows, and healthy sleeping habits can all be beneficial in this regard.
Palliative care can help alleviate pain and stress caused by serious illnesses like heart disease and lung disease, as well as lessen the severity of other symptoms.
After receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, palliative care can be initiated at any point in time; however, the sooner it is started, the better, because a medical professional can begin functioning as an integral component of your support system right away.
The team works to alleviate some of your symptoms, but its members also prioritize having talks with you about your priorities, concerns, and available treatment alternatives. They facilitate a conversation about your values, preferences for caregiving methods and settings, and desired levels of service in the future.
As the condition worsens, palliative care can be of assistance to your family as they make preparations for providing you with care whether it be at home, inside of an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. Maintaining your safety is of the utmost importance.
Your loved ones will have access to guidance and support from the care team, which will assist them in coping with these concerns and, subsequently, in making decisions regarding feeding challenges, infection, hospitalization, and the location of care that will be most beneficial to you.
Palliative care is available not only in hospitals and clinics, but also in some outpatient settings and even in patients’ homes. Palliative care helps patients with Alzheimer’s disease attain the highest possible quality of life while also easing some of the burdens associated with the disease.
