Nursing Care Issues and the Frail Elderly Dementia Essay

Walking into the room hearing the conversation could not be helped. Two elderly patients were conversing, one was talking about experiences in World War II and the other was listening intently. When questioned as to what they were discussing and why, the answer received was one that surprised and saddened. The patient telling the story explained â€Å"Sometimes my friend forgets all about the past, so I sit here and tell my stories and then it helps my friend remember.† The other patient replied â€Å"that is right, there are days I just can’t remember anything and my friend here†¦.remembers everything and tells me all about it†. The second patient suffers from Alzheimer’s disease a form of dementia and apparently today is not a ‘good’ days.†¦show more content†¦However, when the writer asked the patient how old the patient was the reply received was simply â€Å"I am forty-one years old.† This woman, who was so funn y, so bright and so intelligent, could not remember her age, or where she grew up. She could definitely remember the conversation she had with the evening nurse when she was told she would not be able to have a shower the next day. She remembered for certain that she did not like that lady! She could not remember where her hearing aids were put or what she had for dinner the night before when she was at her son’s home, but she remembered going there for the evening. As a student nurse learning the processes of caring for individuals, caring for a client with dementia is a particular challenge. A nurse with knowledge of not only the clients’ medical history but also their personal history is better equipped to individualize care for that client. (Serio, 2011, p.19) According to the RNAO Best Practice Guidelines on Caregiving Strategies for Older Adults with Delirium, Dementia and Depression; â€Å"Nurses should know their clients, recognize their retained abilities, understand the impact of the environment, and relate effectively when tailoring and implementing their caregiving strategies.† (Registered Nursing Association of Ontario, 2004, p. 54) Quite often as a caregiver to a person with dementiaShow MoreRelatedElder Abuse and Nursing Ethics1802 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Elder abuse and nursing ethics Introduction Given the aging of the population, elder abuse has become more a prevalent and a more serious issue in recent years. Every year, an estimated 4 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological or other forms of abuse and neglect. 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