NURSING ROLE IN THE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA: USING RECOVERY APPROACH
Dementia is defined by (World Health Organization, 1992) as a disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive nature in which there is disturbance of multiple higher cortical function including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, language and judgment. Consciousness is not clouded. The impairments of cognitive function are commonly accompanied and occasionally preceded by deterioration in emotional control, social behavioral or motivation. In view of the above symptoms, nursing care is important to help the patient in management of the condition.

According to statistics It is estimated that 24.3 million people have dementia worldwide (Alzheimer’s Association, 2009) and with the United Kingdom (UK) having over 700,000 people with dementia, a condition costing the economy a staggering £17 billion a year (DH, 2009). As the dementia patients cannot explain their symptoms, care is based on the assumption that patients will express their wishes and be willing to comply (Archibald, 2003).

The recovery approach in nursing people with dementia should be based largely on the documentation of the patients biography which is important in understanding how he or she responds to situations with a particular focus of the cultural and religious aspects(Hazel Heath (2010) The approach to be used by nursing in a recovery approach should include communication

According to (Archibald, 2003), nurses should seek to discuss with patients the approach that they can use in caring for them. Although communication might prove to be frustrating with the patient, this opportunity offers an excellent platform to identify the most rehearsed responses that are most effective with the dementia patient. (Dewing, 2003).

Search Strategy

Various studies have been done on the recovery approach in the care with people with dementia to outline three distinct conditions; these include cognitive impairment referred to as Pseudodementia, delirium and reversible dementia (Maletta, 1990). Studies on reversible dementia have been reviewed previously by Carfield (1988) showing in 11 studies where 11% of patients showed improvement after treatment, partial recovery in 8% and complete recovery in 3%. (Weytingh et al 1995) studies showed a partial recovery in 8% of patients with 3% showing complete recovery. From these studies, a sample of dementia patients was used and there is need for a larger sample of dementia patients so as a conclusive result on the actual role of nursing in patients with dementia can be shown which is the main aim of this study. A sample of about 200 patients ailing from dementia will be used, and data collected will be accessed to show statistically the value that nursing adds to a patient.

Conclusion

It is expected that the patients varying dementia conditions will have their forms of dementia documented, so that a clear picture on the value of nursing in dementia can be shown mainly on the quality of life and mental health. More studies need to be done on the use of nursing in patients suffering from delirium as many patients seem to affect as many as 30% of patients which in turn is attributed with high mortality rates and complications. (BGS/RCP 2006)

References
Alzheimer’s Association (2009). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago.
Archibald C (2003) People with Dementia in Acute Hospital Settings: A Practice Guide for Clinical Support Workers. Dementia Services Development Centre, Stirling.
Clarfield AM. The reversible dementias: do they reverse? Ann Intern Med 1988;109:476-486.
Dewing J (2003) Rehabilitation for older people with dementia. Nursing Standard.
DH, 2009. Living well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy. TSO, London.
Hazel Heath (2010) Improving quality of care for people with dementia in general hospitals RCN Publishing Middlesex
British Geriatrics Society and Royal College of Physicians (2006) Clinical Guidelines: An Abstract of the Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Delirium in Older People in Hospital. www.BGS.org.uk/Publications/Clinical%20Guidelines/ clinical_1-2_delirium.htm (Last accessed: July 22 2012.)
Maletta GJ. (1990) The concept of ''reversible'' dementia: how nonreliable terminology may impair effective treatment. J Am Geriatr Soc
Weytingh MD (1995) Bossuyt PMM, van Crevel H. Reversible dementia: more than 10% or less than 1%? J Neurol
World Health Organization (1992) ICD-10 copyright