Course Competency:

Proposal for In-Service Training on Dementia Care for Older Adults

Name of Student: Babalola Olufemi

Course: Nursing Care of the Older Adult

Date 07/12/24

Proposal for In-Service Training on Dementia Care for Older Adults

Dementia can be described as a condition affecting the elderly, which has severe effects on their health, welfare, and lives. This proposal seeks to effectively manage the challenges brought about by dementia through in- service training among the health care practitioners.

Identifying the Client Problem

The main concern that in-service will solve is dealing and caring for the elderly with dementia. Dementia is not a simple medical condition that is summarized by the loss of cognitive function; it involves memory, thinking, and social interactions that drastically alter the lives of the patients and their families (Livingston et al., 2020).

Impact of Dementia on Health, Safety and Welfare

First, dementia causes a decrease in physical health since individuals can no longer manage diseases and maintain cleanliness. This decline could lead to situations such as malnutrition, dehydration and vulnerability to infections. Second, patients with dementia can exhibit behavioral and psychological symptoms including agitation, aggression and depression which can put the patients and caretakers at risk (Petty et al., 2019). Third, as dementia progresses, the affected individuals lose their independence as they need close supervision and help with daily tasks, thus becoming more of a burden to the caregivers (Connors et al., 2020). Fourth, dementia results in social isolation, as elderly people pull out from social interactions and activities

they used to engage in, thus experience loneliness and depression (Petty et al., 2019).

Finally, costs prevalent with dementia include medical expenses, constant care, and loss of income for both the patient and the caretakers (Wimo et al., 2023).

Justification of Selecting the Client Problem

The rationale for the focus on dementia care is rooted in the level of damage that it inflicts on the lives of elderly individuals. Given that the global population is aging, it is important to have proper care and treatment strategies to combat the occurrence of dementia. As for training of health care providers in dementia, we are able to enhance quality of life for the elderly patients, reduce the burden on caregivers and enhance care outcomes. This in-service training will enable the healthcare providers to realize the right strategy and techniques needed in managing this disease therefore improving care on those affected.

Hence, measures should be taken to solve this problem by designing an in- service training program to improve the health and safety of the elderly patients with dementia. This will have numerous benefits since the quality of care will improve and there will be a reduced burden on both the families and the health care system.

References

Connors, M. H., Seeher, K., Teixeira‐Pinto, A., Woodward, M., Ames, D., & Brodaty, H. (2020). Dementia and caregiver burden: a three‐year longitudinal study. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 35(2), 250-258.

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., ... & Mukadam,

N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The lancet, 396(10248), 413-446.

Petty, S., Dening, T., Coleston, D. M., & Griffiths, A. (2019). Dementia: beyond disorders of mood. Aging & Mental Health, 23(5), 525-528.

Wimo, A., Seeher, K., Cataldi, R., Cyhlarova, E., Dielemann, J. L., Frisell, O., ... & Dua, T. (2023). The worldwide costs of dementia in 2019. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(7), 2865-

2873.

Proposal for In-Service Training on Dementia Care for Older Adults

Name of Student: Babalola Olufemi

Course: Nursing Care of the Older Adult

Date 07/12/24

Proposal for In-Service Training on Dementia Care for Older Adults

Dementia can be described as a condition affecting the elderly, which has severe effects on their health, welfare, and lives. This proposal seeks to effectively manage the challenges brought about by dementia through in- service training among the health care practitioners.

Identifying the Client Problem

The main concern that in-service will solve is dealing and caring for the elderly with dementia. Dementia is not a simple medical condition that is summarized by the loss of cognitive function; it involves memory, thinking, and social interactions that drastically alter the lives of the patients and their families (Livingston et al., 2020).

Impact of Dementia on Health, Safety and Welfare

First, dementia causes a decrease in physical health since individuals can no longer manage diseases and maintain cleanliness. This decline could lead to situations such as malnutrition, dehydration and vulnerability to infections. Second, patients with dementia can exhibit behavioral and psychological symptoms including agitation, aggression and depression which can put the patients and caretakers at risk (Petty et al., 2019). Third, as dementia progresses, the affected individuals lose their independence as they need close supervision and help with daily tasks, thus becoming more of a burden to the caregivers (Connors et al., 2020). Fourth, dementia results in social isolation, as elderly people pull out from social interactions and activities

they used to engage in, thus experience loneliness and depression (Petty et al., 2019).

Finally, costs prevalent with dementia include medical expenses, constant care, and loss of income for both the patient and the caretakers (Wimo et al., 2023).

Justification of Selecting the Client Problem

The rationale for the focus on dementia care is rooted in the level of damage that it inflicts on the lives of elderly individuals. Given that the global population is aging, it is important to have proper care and treatment strategies to combat the occurrence of dementia. As for training of health care providers in dementia, we are able to enhance quality of life for the elderly patients, reduce the burden on caregivers and enhance care outcomes. This in-service training will enable the healthcare providers to realize the right strategy and techniques needed in managing this disease therefore improving care on those affected.

Hence, measures should be taken to solve this problem by designing an in- service training program to improve the health and safety of the elderly patients with dementia. This will have numerous benefits since the quality of care will improve and there will be a reduced burden on both the families and the health care system.

References

Connors, M. H., Seeher, K., Teixeira‐Pinto, A., Woodward, M., Ames, D., & Brodaty, H. (2020). Dementia and caregiver burden: a three‐year longitudinal study. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 35(2), 250-258.

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., ... & Mukadam,

N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The lancet, 396(10248), 413-446.

Petty, S., Dening, T., Coleston, D. M., & Griffiths, A. (2019). Dementia: beyond disorders of mood. Aging & Mental Health, 23(5), 525-528.

Wimo, A., Seeher, K., Cataldi, R., Cyhlarova, E., Dielemann, J. L., Frisell, O., ... & Dua, T. (2023). The worldwide costs of dementia in 2019. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(7), 2865-

2873.