Mental Health - Dementia - Mr. Fred Walsh Case Study Report Writing Assessment Answer

Introduction

Dementia is not a particular ailment. It is a combination of a wide range of ailments associated with a decline in memory. The symptoms affect other thinking skills to the extent of affecting a patient’s ability to perform daily chores. The Alzheimer’s disease is known to account for close to 60 percent of all the cases of dementia. Another form of dementia is vascular dementia, which is experienced after stroke. Thyroid problems and deficiencies in vitamins can result in symptoms of dementia. Dementia affects key mental functions, which include memory, communication, and language, ability to focus, reasoning and judgment as well as visual perception. People affected by dementia have issues with their short-term memory. People should consult medical practitioners whenever they detect symptoms of dementia. If detected and diagnosed early, it can be treated or managed (Kavirajan, H. & Schneider, 2007). Dementia has both psychological and emotional impact on a person. The impact it has on a person is not related to the practical aspects it has in a person’s life but also to the entire life of a person. Just like a normal person, a person with dementia has feelings, thoughts and still responds to various situations surrounding them. Having dementia, however, affects these responses, thoughts, and feelings. A carer should thus factor out the emotions of such a person while taking care of their needs. A diagnosis of dementia normally leaves a huge impact on the victim. Some of the reactions from a recently diagnosed person include grief, loss, fear, disbelief and sometimes anger. Some people may find it difficult handling the new situation and thus require specialized care in order to adapt (Raina et al., 2008). The paper addresses the issues affecting Fred, who has been affected by dementia. It will analyze the roles that environment, technology, the community, and globalization play in the life of a person diagnosed with dementia.

Key Issues in the Case

Fred’s memory has been declining in the recent past though he has no health history and neither is he an alcohol or substance abuse. He is unable to perform daily tasks such as shopping or taking long walks without getting lost. Though he is able to perform basic activities like dressing or bathing, his memory decline is an alarm to him as well as his wife Mary. Their daughter Jane is also concerned about the welfare of her father. Mary reports that Fred’s memory has been deteriorating for the past five years. Fred’s parents lived with dementia for many years. His problem could thus be hereditary and not an issue to do with age. Fred admits that he would better die rather than get admitted to a medical facility for specialized care. The government has laid down proper procedures and legislative laws that ensure that dementia victims have a chance to lead comfortable lives. Since Fred is opposed to being taken to a health care facility, the family members should not force him into getting admitted into such a facility. Instead, they should assist him to lead a comfortable life in his home. The neighbors are concerned and fully support him and the family, Fred should just be allowed to live at home irrespective of how the worse the situation will turn into in the future.

At the individual level, Fred cares about his health. He accepts to seek medical attention in regard, which shows that he is concerned about his health. Though his memory has declined, he takes care of his personal hygiene and dressing. He is also able to prepare simple meals. He is also concerned about the welfare of his family as the report indicates that he attempts to go for a shopping though he gets lost in the process. Fred’s family is also concerned about his health. His wife takes him to seek medical help and advice (Larson,Yaffe & Langa, 2013). Their daughter is equally concerned about her father though she lives in another state.

The community is also concerned about the issues affecting Fred. The neighbors frequently visit the family to ask them to go for a walk to the shopping with them. They are thus very supportive always keeps an eye on him. Since the number of people with dementia is increasing in almost all parts of the world, it is important for communities to think about increasing the number of healthcare centers within the society so that these people can acquire effective and frequent checkups and support. If a community with a population of about 5000 people has two to three health centers that are well equipped with both personnel and medical resources, there is no doubt that people with dementia will improve and live normal lives (Larson,Yaffe & Langa, 2013). Therefore, the community has a significant role to play in helping people with dementia. The time individuals in the community take to spend with people with dementia determines their levels of improvement.

Community as a Partner Model

The community plays a great role in the care towards people affected by dementia. In Fred’s case, the community, which includes the neighbors, is concerned about his health and welfare to the extent of willing to take him to the shopping. The community is responsible for creating recreational facilities and opportunities for people affected by dementia. Such people require moral support from the community. Otherwise, such people might feel withdrawn and rejected to the extent of committing suicide. The community is also responsible for keeping physical environment conducive for such people. The community is also responsible for ensuring safety for the people. Fred’s neighbors are concerned about him and keep track of him in case he gets lost.

Personal relationship and the person’s social environment is crucial to the type of life such a person leads irrespective of their age or mental capacity. The community surrounding such a person can assist the affected member by giving maximum support. Caregivers, friends and family members can assist a person to feel valued, have the energy, and psyche to continue living. In this case, Fred requires huge support to enable him to lead a normal life. The fact that Fred prefers to die rather than being taken to a medical facility shows that he has started losing hope in life. He thus requires specialized care in form of counseling to enable him lead a normal life and stop losing interest in living (Larson,Yaffe & Langa, 2013). The type of support given should focus on his personal needs to enhance his well-being. When supporting such a person it is important for the people concerned to understand the extent to which the symptoms of dementia have affected their lives.

A person with dementia may lose their independence with time and become dependent on family members or caregivers. This can be extremely traumatizing or difficult to a person. This could be the case with Fred. He is unable to go for a walk or even to the shopping by himself. It is a hard change to accept in a person’s life. It is thus important for families, friends and caregivers to support and encourage the person to carry out their responsibilities rather than taking over and doing them on behalf. It is thus the right thing that the neighbors are taking Fred for the shopping rather than doing the shopping for him. It assists in maintaining his self-esteem and confidence. This gives him a chance as well as the need to continue living. In cases where the caregivers or families take over the responsibilities of such people, the victims lose confidence and might feel that they are a burden to the rest of the family members (Larson,Yaffe & Langa, 2013).

Though the person efforts to maintain independence might create a conflict between the person and the rest of the people in their bid to assist the person, it is important that the two create a balance such that none of the parties is affected (Forbes et al., 2013). The person might reject help because they do not want to accept the new situation. The family members should thus not assume that the person affected is oblivious of the changing situations. The best solution is thus to assist people to carry out their duties. Having dementia might limit a person to carry out numerous practical activities. This changes their day-to-day activities and definitely their lifestyles. The caregiver's responsibilities are thus to ensure that the people affected retain a sense of normality.

Influence of Environment, Technology and Globalization

The environment plays a significant role in towards making the lives of people with dementia tolerable. The environment includes the people and the general natural features. The people are particularly vital for the survival of such persons. In Fred’s case, for instance, the direct family members, Mary and Jane assist him in leading a normal life. The neighbors are also concerned and supportive in the situation. They are acting as carers in Fred’s case.

Technology plays a significant role towards the care and management of people affected by dementia. Technology offers a means towards enhanced efficiency of pharmaceutical companies towards introducing new products to the market. Companies are able to employ the EMC Documentum enterprise compliance technology to reduce expenses in countering dementia symptoms on people. Research and development towards easier and effective measures to counter the effects of dementia is more effective with the current advanced technology (Cunningham, 2006).

Globalization refers to the combined processes through which people commodities and ideas move from one place to place throughout the word. The process assists in making the world a uniform place where governments and policy makers can share ideas and resources towards making the world more convenient to live in. With globalization, the world is able to have uniform regulations towards handling of people affected with dementia including their medical and social care. Marketing of new drugs to counter the effects of the symptoms of dementia is easier with globalization and advance in technology (Commission de la transparence 2012). Patients who are unable to cater for their medication due to financial problems can seek assistance from various quarters all over the world. Various governments have collaborated in the management of various diseases affecting the people including cancer, HIV and numerous others (Thompson, 2009). Dementia has not been left behind. The governments have collaborated in setting training programs for carers and laying proper legislative laws to ensure that people affected by dementia are not neglected. The countries have further collaborated in research and development to ensure that more efficient and effective methods of management of dementia are designed (Gillet al., 2009). In regard to financing, the strong economies have assisted others in research for drugs.

Conclusion

The paper has presented all the issues involved in Fred’s case. It has highlighted the various roles and responsibilities that various parties play in the lives of people affected by dementia. The community and especially the neighbors play a significant role in the life of a person affected by the condition. It is important that the people concerned assist the person affected in carrying out their duties rather than taking them away from them. Such a person should be assisted to feel as independent as possible. The paper has further outlined the significance of technology and globalization in the management of dementia cases. Living with dementia is normally challenging due to emotional, social and psychological issues involved. Most of the people having dementia describe the effects as traumatizing and is generally challenging to them. The manner in which a person with dementia feels and perceives life is down to more than just having the symptoms. Such a person will have other issues apart from dementia that will have an influence in their lives. Some of the issues include the relationships such a person has with the environment and the support they get from the community.