Learning outcomes After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Define dementia, the symptoms, and various types of dementia. Discuss Alzheimer’s disease to include the causes, history, and types. Evaluate the various stages of Alzheimer’s. Describe the impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain. Recognize variables and factors that have been identified as linkages to Alzheimer’s. Examine the steps taken for an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Define steps for best practices caring for caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s. professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare
Describe appropriate activities to engage a patient with Alzheimer’s. Recognize the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on activities of daily living and independent activities of daily living within the disease stages. Recognize strategies to accommodate activities of daily living and independent activities of daily living. Recognize the behavioral changes according to the clinical stage of Alzheimer’s. Evaluate the importance of the environment, and mental and physical activity for improving the well-being of a patient with Alzheimer’s. health outcomes. Addressing implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading illnesses affecting the elderly and is the most prevalent of the dementias. As people are living longer, the number of Americans diagnosed with AD is expected to reach 82 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (Zhou et al 2022). The impact that AD has on society has become a public health challenge. In May 2022, the federal government increased funding for AD research to almost $350 billion. As a major cause of physical and mental disability, and increased functional dependency, AD impacts the patient and caregiver. Allied healthcare providers
will play a major role in education, communication, and treatment related to this disease, and the research shows that their interaction is with the patient and their respective support team. Learning about AD’s brain impact, stages and their respective symptoms, patient responsiveness, and caregiver burden will enable you to align with colleagues to share information that will impact lives. This course will provide insight and understanding based on the most current data to enable you to have deeper insight into the impact of AD.
DEMENTIA
Dementia is a common brain disorder throughout the world characterized by memory loss, cognitive impairment, and ultimately loss of independence (Zhou et al., 2021). Over time, capacity is diminished, deeply impacting well-being, self-care, and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Symptoms of dementia can include: • Memory loss • Poor judgment and confusion
Evidence-Based Practice! It is important that people with any type of dementia-like attributes receive a diagnosis from a trained provider (Ophey, 2021). Experts are needed to ensure diagnostic accuracy with screening methodologies to create and implement care plans that will improve outcomes. Self-Assessment Quiz Question #1 What is dementia? a. Memory loss that is intermittent. b. A combination of behaviors and impairment that are a result of a brain disorder. c. Immediate diminished capacity. d. A loss of sensation.
• Confusion with finances • Wandering or getting lost • Inability to capture words for objects • Loss of interest in normal activities • Inability to perform normal activities • Paranoia and/or delusions • Difficulty expressing thoughts • Loss of ability to read or write
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Book Code: SWUS1525
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