Coping Mechanism: How Do Cares Deal with the Challenges That Come with Caring of Dementia Sufferer
Coping Mechanism: How do carers deal with the challenges that come with caring of dementia sufferer?
By:
Joy Melanie M. Pacificador
Introduction
Dementia is a syndrome caused by a disease of the brain that is usually progressive, in which there is impairment of brain functions including the mental ability, personality and behavior. (Bryant &Ouldred, 2008). A diagnosis of dementia can have a devastating effect to the person, their family, and people around them. When a person with dementia finds that their mental abilities are declining, they often feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance and support. The people closest to them - including their carers, friends and family - need to do everything they can to help the person to retain their sense of identity and feelings of self-worth. In a society where mental ill is stigmatized, people with dementia and their carers often feel isolated and marginalized.
Dementia is one of the most common diseases that the elderly population of United Kingdom suffers. According to Knapp et al (2007) as cited by Bryant & Ouldred (2008), the estimated number of people living in UK with dementia was around 600,000. It was also stated that 1 in 20 people aged over 65 have dementia and this figure increases to 1 in 5 people aged over 80.
This disease is not just found with the elderly population, there is also documentation of the younger generation having this disease. There are currently over 18,000 people under the age of 65 living with dementia in the UK (Harvey et al, 2007). Janicki and Dalton (2007) stated that this figure includes a significant number of people with intellectual impairment who are likely to develop Alzheimer’s at an earlier age than the general population.
As the figure rises and considering the nature of the disease in which it usually gets worse slowly, often over many years, and may mean that the person affected can no longer live independently, support for the patient and the family is
By:
Joy Melanie M. Pacificador
Introduction
Dementia is a syndrome caused by a disease of the brain that is usually progressive, in which there is impairment of brain functions including the mental ability, personality and behavior. (Bryant &Ouldred, 2008). A diagnosis of dementia can have a devastating effect to the person, their family, and people around them. When a person with dementia finds that their mental abilities are declining, they often feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance and support. The people closest to them - including their carers, friends and family - need to do everything they can to help the person to retain their sense of identity and feelings of self-worth. In a society where mental ill is stigmatized, people with dementia and their carers often feel isolated and marginalized.
Dementia is one of the most common diseases that the elderly population of United Kingdom suffers. According to Knapp et al (2007) as cited by Bryant & Ouldred (2008), the estimated number of people living in UK with dementia was around 600,000. It was also stated that 1 in 20 people aged over 65 have dementia and this figure increases to 1 in 5 people aged over 80.
This disease is not just found with the elderly population, there is also documentation of the younger generation having this disease. There are currently over 18,000 people under the age of 65 living with dementia in the UK (Harvey et al, 2007). Janicki and Dalton (2007) stated that this figure includes a significant number of people with intellectual impairment who are likely to develop Alzheimer’s at an earlier age than the general population.
As the figure rises and considering the nature of the disease in which it usually gets worse slowly, often over many years, and may mean that the person affected can no longer live independently, support for the patient and the family is
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