Evaluationand Implementation of Health Plan to Improve Family Life Style inPatient with Dementia
WidyMorvan
NSG4075Holistic Professional Nursing
Dr.Scialdo
SouthUniversity
Implementation& Evaluation of Health Promotion Plan
Thepaper focuses on the implementation and evaluation of healthpromotion plan for a 70-year-old female patient named A.M who suffersfrom dementia. The patient was diagnosed with dementia at the age of65. The aim of the project was, therefore, to provide proper care tothe patient so as to enable her to live a better life. The client wasselected due the history obtained from her daughters. Theimplementation process also aimed at prevention of mortality rates,decrease costs of health services, reduce incessant hospitalizationand promote the life of the patient affected by dementia. It alsofocused on educating the public on different issues that concernpatients suffering from dementia. Such included the health problemsof dementia and the benefits of early diagnosis (Borsonet al., 2013).
HealthPromotion Plan Background
Dementiais a neurodegenerative condition which is characterized by aprogressive deterioration and terminal clinical syndromescharacterized by a declining or loss of memory and other cognitiveabilities. Dementia may arise due to the presence of certainconditions early in the patient’s life, and this has contributed tothe rise of the population of individuals suffering from dementia(Cisek et al., 2015). To date, no cure have been developed to healdementia. The absence of treatment for the condition leads toincreased mortality rates among individuals with dementia. Also,there exist different forms of dementia with the most common formbeing Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson-Dementia and each of theseforms requires various forms of care.
Dueto lack of treatment, a care plan is essential in ensuring that theindividual suffering from a particular form of dementia copes withthe disease and can live longer in a less destructive manner(Bahar-Fuchset al., 2013).The primary goal of a care plan is to enable people to achieve aprime level of function. One of the apposite structures of care forpatients with dementia is through rehabilitation. Rehabilitation fordementia patients focuses more on nonpharmacological, compensatoryand facilitative approaches which modify behavior and change thesocial and physical environment so as to aid the patients cope withthe disease and go on with their daily activities and stay alive fora longer period. The care plan helps the individuals achieve aquality life regardless of their level of cognitive status. The mainaim of the rehabilitative approach is to focus on the strengths heldby the patients and try to find their preserved capabilities then tryto build on them.
Thegoals of rehabilitative care offered to individuals with dementiainclude:
To help the patient improve functionality, respond to his surroundings by engaging in daily activities even as the disease progresses
To provide care due to functionality fault which results due to conditions which accompany dementia. Such conditions include stroke, falls and traumatic injuries. It is, therefore, a goal of rehabilitative care to rectify what had been damaged during such conditions.
To offer education and relevant knowledge to the caregivers. Such knowledge includes what the patient with the condition experiences, what can be done to support them, what environment is essential for such patients, and what can be done to prevent injuries or unexpected traumas to the patient.
Mostof the patients suffering from dementia have failed to be consideredas potential candidates for rehabilitative processes (Wimo et al.,2013). This has mostly been attributed to the fact that dementia is aterminal illness with no known pharmacological care plan yet. Mostcaregivers and healthcare providers find it hard and impossible tosupport patients with dementia thus my concern in the development ofa care plan to handle such patients. The problem made me identify A.Mas a potential patient who would benefit from the care plan.
Also,most of the caregiver lack the proper knowledge on the proper ways ofhandling individuals with dementia. It is, therefore, essential thatadequate knowledge is disseminated to the caregiver and person whoare closer to its citizens suffering from dementia. There is also aneed for the nurses to know the best way to handle patients with anyform of dementia. Nurses should understand the resultant behavior oftheir patients and the best way to ensure that these patients don’tget injuries or pathological conditions as a result of their status.
Evaluationof the Initial Plan
Theinitial plan focused on the provision of education and knowledge tothe general public on matters pertaining dementia, including itsdiagnostic procedures and the procedures to be used in the provisionof care to the affected individuals.
Apatient was then chosen for the project. The patient was aseventy-year-old female living in a nursing home at Broward Nursingand Rehabilitation Center in Fort Lauderdale. The rehabilitation planemployed as a care plan for the patient seemed useful as the patientwas able to interact with others thus improving her social being andalso benefited her emotionally. The choice of putting the patient onrehabilitative care plan was beneficial. She was under surveillanceby trained individuals and also got support from other patients inthe center.
Forthe general public, the following steps were taken in handlingdementia in the community level.
STEP1: Identity the health promotion strategy for the population.
STEP2: Using the developed windshield survey by conducting an analysisfor the aggregate
STEP3: Decide on an aggregate for the health preferment strategy
STEP4: Increase awareness and understanding of dementia, a program forthe meeting arrange for post-diagnosis support prepare the patientelicit the patient`s preferences for disclosure.
STEP5: Provision of relevant resources to the community for teaching themabout dementia
STEP6: Clarification of follow-up plans discuss available supportservices, create pamphlets, flyers, informational seminars.
STEP7: Communicate efficiently: Develop understanding use appropriateverbal and nonverbal communication use active listening skillsinvolve the patient.
ActionPlan Implemented
Forthe project, I focused on one patient. A rehabilitative care plan hasbeen applied to this patient. The focus of the project was to ensurethat the patient stays emotionally fit and is free from anenvironment that would result in more damage to her health status.Through the rehabilitative process, the patient’s health wasmaintained in a better condition, and all her needs were take handledin a better manner. The fact that A.M was cognitively impaired calledfor close attention which the family members would have failed toprovide. Her appetite was also weak and needed assistance throughpersuasion to take appetite stimulants. She is also anemic and has adecayed tooth and therefore the importance of being in therehabilitative care plan. The tooth had to be removed from care toensure that her hemoglobin level is checked. The patient was placedin the facility so that she can stay safe, attain emotional andsocial support.
Evaluationof the Health Promotion Plan
Project’sCost-Effectiveness
Theproject’s cost was effective as all the processes utilized only aminimum amount of cash. The bit that consumed a significant sum ofmoney was the process of passing information to the public on themethods to be implemented for caring for an individual suffering fromdementia.
Mostof the care processes were undertaken by the care center and also therelatives were of much aid in financial help for their family member.Another factor that consumed massive amounts of cash was the hostingof seminars to help educate the community on the better ways ofhandling individuals with dementia.
Project’sPractical Use and Sustainability
Thecare plan is valid and applicable. Starting a care rehabilitativeprogram is relatively inexpensive, can be sustained for an elongatedperiod. Through rehabilitative care plan, the patient is wholesomelytaken care of, and it ensures that they are safe hence useful forpractical use (Cisek et al., 2015).
Theproject can be supported through funding from the government andother potential bodies. Dementia is often a community issue and canonly be tackled effectively on a community level through theinvolvement of institutions that deal with such a group (Handels etal., 2013). Through educations to the community, the people will knowthe importance of early diagnosis and how to address the condition inan initial state so as to prevent complications at a later stage.
Project’sFinancial Implications
Theprevalence rate of dementia is estimated to be six percent to tenpercent of the people having the age of 65 years and above. Theprevalence increases with an increase in age, escalating from one totwo per cent of individuals aged 65 to 74 to thirty percent or morefor those aged eighty-five or more (Handels et al., 2013). Some ofthe cases of dementia are however reversible when diagnosed at anearly state or before the onset of clinical symptoms. The cost ofhandling a large number of patients in the community is high and canbe a challenge to the families, caregivers, the government and otherstakeholders (Chan & Luk, 2014). With education, people will knowthe benefit of early diagnosis, consider it and lead to reversing ofsome cases thus reducing public costs. Knowledge on how to handlecases of dementia will also reduce hospitalization cases.
Onthe A.M’s case, putting her under care at the Broward Nursing andRehabilitation Center was a better choice. Dementia is characterizedby losing of cognition, as also seen in A.M, and such leads toimpairments in occupation and social functioning and may also presentdisturbances in one’s behavior. Without proper care and attentionby well-informed individuals, such a case may lead to complicationswhich are far more expensive than when care was given in thebeginning (Bahar-Fuchs, 2013). Putting A.M under rehabilitative careat the Broward Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was, therefore,suitable as it ensures that her health status is closely monitored,her behavior is noted and taken care of, and that she interacts withother patients thus uplifting her spirits and emotions. Failure toplace her at the care center would have had negative financialimplications due to consequences such as accidents, inability to eat,among others.
Over-AllSummary and Expectations
Theproject focused on the implementation and evaluation of healthpromotion plan for a 70-year-old female patient named A.M who suffersfrom dementia. The patient was enrolled at the Broward Nursing andRehabilitation Center where she was under rehabilitative care toensure that she does not develop medical complications as a result ofher status and that any injury or complication that results due toher medical condition is taken care of. Through the project, risksassociated with her health status are expected to reduce at asubstantial rate. A.M is also supposed to live for a relativelylonger period due to the rehabilitative care as compared to if shehad been left at home.
Informationto the public about the care processes for individuals living withdementia was also helpful. Through the initiation of such a process,the public will gain knowledge on diagnosis, the care possesses ofpeople living with dementia, and the essential characteristics ofdementia thus enabling them to care for the old and reduce the numberof people being hospitalized due to the condition. Such a project isof benefit to the public health and is easy to sustain hence will becontinued.
Conclusion
Dementia,which includes Alzheimer’s disease, is a medical condition whichleads to losing of memory and cognition (OECD, 2015). Such asituation calls for intensive care and regular supervision since theindividuals with the disease may not be able to do some activities ontheir own. Some forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s areirreversible and are included among terminal illness. Upon earlydiagnosis, however, some forms of dementia can be reversed. Educatingthe public on the benefits of early diagnosis and the better ways ofhandling individuals suffering from dementia was, therefore, anessential health promotion plan to improve family lifestyle in apatient with dementia.
Theproject also included putting A.M at the nursing and rehabilitationcenter. Through such, she would be able to exercise her brain, takebalance diet, and socialize with others thus improving her cognition,use her memory and stay in a healthy state. The implementation of theproject will enable her to live for an elongated period.
References
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