The Importance Of Dementia In Nursing Home Patients

Hospice use is increasing but less than half of nursing home residents with advanced dementia receive hospice care. The focus of care should always be the comfort of the person with dementia. Physical comfort is a paramount human need, yet pain is experienced by at least one-third of nursing home residents with advanced dementia in the last year of life. This is frequently undetected and undertreated. Person-centered care honors preferences in social, emotional, spiritual, and physical care (Kuhn, 2013). Connections are made for people with advanced dementia by tapping into five senses such as a taste of favorite food, the sound of personalized music, or a gentle massage. Sensory stimulation activities offered individually or in small groups are great ways to communicate and to enhance the quality of life when people with dementia lose their language skills. Involving family members or other caregivers about the end of life decisions is important because it will ease their burden and offer them the satisfaction that they served the best interests of the person with dementia (Kuhn, 2013).
Dementia is a term used to describe a series of symptoms of what a person is experiencing. This is difficult diagnosis not just for the patient, but also for their families. It is also tough for the caregivers because they have to go through additional training to learn how to properly care for patients with dementia. After a person is diagnosed with dementia their physicians than setting up a treatment plan. However, there are no medications as of today, that will cure dementia. There is also no medications that will slow the progression of this