Impact of Alzheimer's Disease Case Study

Total Length: 780 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

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female Alzheimer's patient endures due to this disease. Alzheimer's is a progressive cognitive disorder that destroys a person's memory and hampers other functions that a normal human would expect to be able to experience each day. This paper delves into the disease and presents information through the available literature. The case of an individual that is suffering from Alzheimer's, named Sadie Cohen, will be referenced in this paper.

Severity of the disorder: Alzheimer's caused many of Sadie's brain cells to "degenerate and die," which led to her severe memory loss and the dysfunction of many of her mental abilities; a person like Sadie with Alzheimer's feels lost, confused, and incompetent (Mayo Clinic).

Risk factors: The most common risk factor when it comes to Alzheimer's is the age factor. Moving up in age brings with it the chance of getting the disease. An estimated ten percent of people beyond the age of 65 currently have Alzheimer's (Sadie is 85), and up to 50% of those who are older than 85 years of age are suffering from the disease (webmd.com). Also: a) women are more likely to get the disease; b) people who have experienced Down syndrome are potential candidates for Alzheimer's; c) head injuries sometimes lead to Alzheimer's; d) certain toxins in the environment can cause Alzheimer's if a person is exposed (constant exposure to aluminum is said to be a potential source); and e) this is not fully understood, but people are lack good education have an increased risk of Alzheimer's (webmd.
com).

How does she manage Alzheimer's? A peer-reviewed article in the journal Aging & Mental Health suggests that managing Alzheimer's requires, for starters, a skilled caregiver. What is the definition of a skilled caregiver? There are three ways in which to distinguish a skilled caregiver from "less skilled caregivers": a) being very knowledgeable about the affect Alzheimer's has on the individual; b) receive "formal and informal support" from healthcare professionals; and c) skilled caregivers utilize a "broad repertoire of interventions" and they familiar with "the complex and creative processes underlying care" (Farran, et al. 2011).

Level of success from treatment and therapies: A case study published in the Journal of Social Work Practice reflects the fact that the use of "…lying, fabrication and deception" by the caregivers in the Camelot Continuing Care Retirement Community in Connecticut have helped Sadie. It was clear that Sadie was becoming more….....

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"Impact Of Alzheimer's Disease" (2015, January 22) Retrieved May 18, 2024, from
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"Impact Of Alzheimer's Disease" 22 January 2015. Web.18 May. 2024. <
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Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

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"Impact Of Alzheimer's Disease", 22 January 2015, Accessed.18 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/impact-alzheimer-disease-2148200