a nurse is working with a patient with dementia report pain ask family to assist

by Stan Wisozk 7 min read

Caring for Patients with Dementia – What Should a Nurse …

8 hours ago  · Engage in conversations in quiet spaces without distractions. 2. Establish a routine with a daily care plan. The importance of routines and familiarity for dementia and Alzheimer's patients cannot be underestimated. Creating a nursing care plan helps to reduce restlessness, anxiety, and other challenging behaviors. >> Go To The Portal


What is the nurse’s role in the diagnosis of dementia?

An important aspect of the nurse’s role is to observe and report any potential signs of underlying dementia. However, although early diagnosis leads to better treatment options and advance decision making, the condition is currently underdiagnosed (Jenkins et al, 2016).

What challenges do nurses face in caring for dementia patients?

Responding to the complex combination of comorbidity and polypharmacy, particularly in environments that may be unfamiliar to the patient, means caring for people with dementia can be a challenge for the nurses aiming to provide high-quality care.

How well is nurse education supporting people with dementia in care?

Although most people with dementia live independently or with minimal support, around a third live in care homes (Alzheimer’s Society, 2014) and, while nurse education places high value on the attitudes and skills needed for best practice, this has not always been reflected in the care provided on the ground.

What happens to nurses in the final stages of dementia?

In the later stages of dementia when the memory has deteriorated further, patients may call for their mother or insist they go home to cook their husband’s tea, for example; this can be difficult for nurses, especially if they know the parent or spouse has died.

How do you assess the pain of dementia patients?

The PAINAD scale consists of five items: breathing, negative vocalizations, facial expression, body language, and consolability. Each element of the scale is scored, and the possible total scores of 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain) are comparable to the traditional 0-to-10 pain scale.

What advice should you give to family for communicating with a person with dementia?

It can help to:speak clearly and slowly, using short sentences.make eye contact with the person when they're talking or asking questions.give them time to respond, because they may feel pressured if you try to speed up their answers.encourage them to join in conversations with others, where possible.More items...

How do you comfort a family member with dementia?

Comfort the person with verbal and physical reassurance. Distraction or redirection might also help. Giving your loved one a job such as folding laundry might help to make her feel needed and useful. People with dementia may become uncooperative and resistant to daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.

Can people with dementia report their pain?

Can people with dementia verbally report pain? In the early stages of dementia, people may still be able to tell someone when they are in pain. But their declining thinking skills may make them less able to understand why they are feeling pain and to know what to do about it.

How can I help a dementia patient with caregivers?

Here are some tips that may offer some relief:Ask for help when you need it. ... Eat nutritious foods, which can help keep you healthy and active for longer.Join a caregiver's support group online or in person. ... Take breaks each day. ... Spend time with friends and keep up with hobbies.Get exercise as often as you can.More items...

What do you say to a caregiver of a dementia patient?

Here are five phrases you can say to a family caregiver to show your support.“When are you free to catch up? Pick a time and place, and I'll be there.” ... “You can vent to me, I'm here to listen.” ... “I care about your health and happiness. ... “I know you're doing everything you can.” ... “I appreciate you.”

What questions should I ask a dementia patient?

Here are some questions you might ask:What chores did you have to do when you were growing up?When you were a teenager, what did you and your friends do for fun?What are some of the most valuable things you learned from your parents?What did your grandparents and great grandparents do for a living?More items...

How do you explain dementia to a family member?

When telling family and friends about a dementia diagnosis, consider:Explaining the disease and its effects. Make sure your family and friends understand that dementia is a disease in which brain cells waste away and die, causing a decline in memory and thinking over months to years. ... Sharing resources. ... Asking for help.

What are the impact of dementia on family and carers?

The family member with dementia usually becomes the family's centre of attention. A Energy is focused on this person. This can lead to other family members, including spouses or other children, feeling neglected. They may become resentful because they feel they are not getting the attention they need.

What monitoring activities are required to manage a person's pain or discomfort?

Monitoring activities Observation of individuals during daily routines using covert and overt techniques. Use of open questions to obtain current pain status. Discussions with individuals to ascertain levels of efficacy of pain control. Noting of changes, worsening symptoms, improvements.

Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate to use for a patient with dementia?

The Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (PAINAD) is a reliable assessment tool for dementia patients. It can be used in both nonverbal and verbal patients.

What pain assessment tool would you use to assess a patient with dementia?

PAINAD is a commonly suggested tool to assess people with dementia or any cognitive impairment that prevents them from communicating their pain. roper use of the PAINAD scale as part of a comprehensive pain management plan can help reduce the likelihood of a patient experiencing unrecognized and untreated pain.

What are six communication techniques you should use when communicating with a person with dementia?

Top communication tools for seniors with dementiaLimit potential distractions. ... Speak naturally and use gestures. ... Use your name and others' names. ... Talk about one thing at a time. ... Use nonverbal cues. ... Avoid overwhelming questions. ... Be creative. ... Be patient and avoid jumping in.More items...•

What are the three key strategies to use in communicating with an Alzheimer's patient?

To speak effectively with a person who has Alzheimer's:Offer simple, step-by-step instructions.Repeat instructions and allow more time for a response. Try not to interrupt.Don't talk about the person as if he or she isn't there.Don't talk to the person using “baby talk” or a “baby voice.”

How do you start a conversation with someone with dementia?

Use short, simple sentences. Don't talk to the person as you would to a child – be patient and have respect for them. Try to communicate with the person in a conversational way, rather than asking question after question which may feel quite tiring or intimidating.

How do you talk to someone with dementia?

Here are six tips for talking with someone you love about dementia:Acknowledge the conversation may not go as planned. ... Have the conversation as early as possible. ... Offer your support. ... Plan specific ways to start the conversation. ... Realize gaps in self-awareness. ... Think through who should have the conversation.

Meet Our Contributor

Ann Kriebel-Gasparro, a faculty member in Walden University's master of science in nursing program, holds more than 26 years of nursing experience. She is dual-credentialed as a family and gerontological nurse practitioner. In her clinical practice, Dr. Kriebel-Gasparro provides in-home healthcare for elderly patients. Dr.

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Shri Deshaies is a nurse educator with over 20 years of experience teaching in hospital, nursing school, and community settings. Deshaies' clinical area of expertise is critical care nursing and she is a certified critical care nurse. She has worked in various surgical ICUs throughout her career, including cardiovascular, trauma, and neurosurgery.

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How can healthcare professionals help dementia patients?

How healthcare professionals can help: Healthcare professionals who work with dementia patients know that compassion and patience can go a long way in improving a patient’s day-to-day life. These three strategies can help you minimize negative experiences for your patients and provide an exceptional level of care: 1. Stay calm.

Why do people with dementia need individualized care?

Because of the disease’s debilitating effects, patients with dementia often require individualized care. And, because dementia affects a significant portion of the elderly population , it’s likely you will work with patients with this disease during your healthcare career.

How to help a patient who is having difficulty coping with a new situation?

If you are visibly stressed, you patient may become more upset. Watch your patients’ body language for signals of stress and stay calm when you address a patient who is having difficulty coping with a new situation. 2. Patience is key.

What is the most common form of dementia?

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and contributes to 60-70 percent of cases. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontal temporal lobe dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Jakob’s disease.

How many people have dementia?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people suffer from dementia and nearly 10 million new cases crop up each year. Because of the disease’s debilitating effects, patients with dementia often require individualized ...

Can you calm an upset patient?

You might not be able to calm an upset patient right way. Sometimes patients get into a funk and cannot find a way to listen; sometimes they might not want to listen. A new face and voice can sometimes help put an upset patient at ease, so ask a colleague to assist you if you cannot help a patient on your own.

Can dementia affect the frontal temporal lobe?

If the disease affects the frontal temporal lobe, they can lose control of their decision-making skills and language abilities. Some patients are also prone to aggression.

What is the role of a nurse in dementia?

Recognising dementia. An important aspect of the nurse’s role is to observe and report any potential signs of underlying dementia . However, although early diagnosis leads to better treatment options and advance decision making, the condition is currently underdiagnosed (Jenkins et al, 2016).

How can nurses help people with dementia?

Nurses can tailor their communication skills and the environment to empower people with dementia. Learning to understand behaviour can enable nurses to make people with dementia feel more comfortable and secure. A strong nurse-patient relationship facilitates accurate assessment and improved outcomes.

What is the key to correct treatment for dementia?

Accurate diagnosis of dementia, depression or delirium is the key to correct treatment, and nurses in any setting who are observant, empathetic and trusted by patients are ideally placed to identify problems (Table 1). People with dementia will feel safe with a trusted and familiar nurse, and be more able to:

What is a strong nurse-patient relationship?

A strong nurse-patient relationship facilitates accurate assessment and improved outcomes. The nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team that includes other health professionals, the person with dementia and their family carers. Also in this series. Dementia 1: how dementia differs from normal ageing.

Can dementia cause low mood?

For example, pain in people with dementia is often under-recognised, under-treated and can lead to low mood (Flo et al, 2014), which will make it more difficult for them to contribute to their own care. Sometimes pain leads to behaviour that can be difficult for nurses to cope with, such as shouting or hitting out.

Is dementia a challenge for nurses?

Conclusion. Working with people who have dementia is challenging and fulfilling. As the population ages, providing effective person-centred care in a range of specialist fields for people with dementia will become essential for nurses. The ageing demographic means dementia care skills have become core skills.

Can dementia patients cope with noisy environments?

Environmental adjustments. Hospital environments tend to be noisy and fast-paced and therefore difficult for people with dementia to cope with. However, the environment itself can be used to provide practical cues – for example, patients are more likely to remain continent if toilets are clearly labelled.

Understanding The Patient’S Needs

Types of Dementia

Risk Factors

  • In researching cures, scientists have been able to identify risk factors that contribute to dementias. These include age over 65 although (almost 10% of dementias are identified in adults under 65) tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, alcohol abuse, physical and cognitive inactivity, diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, depression, hypertension at midlife, social isolation and low lev…
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Treatment and Management

  • There is no cure for dementia, but with quality medical care and caregiving, symptoms can be managed, and progression slowed. Dementia is the 7th leading cause of death, but progression to mortality can take up to 10 years. The goal is to maintain as much independence as possible, prevent co-morbid complications, and decrease the burden on caregivers. Memory loss and cog…
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Keeping Patients Active

  • As dementia progresses, patients will lose cognitive and physical abilities and struggle with all ADLs and IADLs. Activities of Daily Living include feeding, bathing, dressing/grooming, ambulation, transferring, and toileting/continence. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living include managing finances, communication via telephone or mail, housekee...
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Other Complications to Expect

  • Confusion due to memory loss can be challenging. Don’t argue with them. Gently correct anything that’s a danger or simply change the subject and distract them. If there’s no harm, it’s OK to agree. Giggle silently at the funny response, but don’t judge. Routine hygiene and skin care to prevent breakdown are essential. Dementia patients especially those with Alzheimer’s are prone to skin …
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Patience and Self-Care

  • Caring for dementia patients can be extremely draining both physically and emotionally. Self-care cannot be overlooked. Sharing the burden, delegating responsibilities, and taking mental and physical breaks are essential. Replenishing the soul is absolutely necessary in order to keep going and providing quality care.
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