Dementia is a term used to describe complex neurological disorders that are gradually getting worse and present in millions of people. Dementia, associated with cognitive impairment, memory loss, and behavioral changes, is a difficult condition not only for patients but also for their relatives. With progression of the disease to the advanced stage, total and prolonged care is required. This is where a dementia therapist intervenes and comes into the picture. A dementia therapist is a counselor that focuses on patients with dementia and their family’s affording assistance, advice, and techniques in handling the disease. In this blog, we discuss how dementia therapists can be beneficial for families in providing care for their loved ones in the long-term.
Dementia therapists play a crucial role in supporting families as they navigate the complexities of long-term care. By providing tailored strategies and emotional support, these professionals help families manage the challenges associated with dementia. For those seeking more information on available care options for loved ones, you can view more to explore comprehensive live-in care services that cater to individual needs.
Understanding Dementia: The Theoretical Framework
Dementia could be defined as a significant loss of cognitive ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities and involves a group of diseases that have symptoms like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc. The WHO states that close to 55 million people (which is approximately double the population of Texas) suffer from dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases for each year are reported. These conditions are mainly characterized by a gradual loss of brain functions such as memory, reasoning ability, language and processing skills.
The theoretical formulation of dementia has changed over the years due to various theories from cognitive psychology, neurobiology and gerontology. For instance, The Cognitive Reserve Theory indicates that a person with higher cognitive reserve, due to education, occupation, and mental activities, can have a later onset of dementia symptoms. Another theory that has greatly been applied is the Biopsychosocial Model, which considers dementia as not only a neurological condition but one that is affected by the psychological state and social and physical environment of the afflicted individuals.
Understanding these theoretical frameworks is essential for dementia therapists as it allows them to develop holistic and personalized care plans that address the unique needs of each individual and their family.
The Role of a Dementia Therapist
Dementia therapists, also called geriatric or neuropsychologists, have numerous responsibilities for the treatment of dementia and patients’ families. In addition to the direct management of neuropsychiatric manifestations, they are also stakeholders in the patient’s and his or her carer’s emotional, relational, and psychological lives. Here are some key aspects of their role:
- Assessment and Diagnosis
Dementia therapists are supposed to perform assessment tasks that involve the use of tests and clinical interviews to establish the cognitive status of their patients. These tests play a significant role in determining the type and the stage of dementia needed for the formulation of an effective care plan. It is significant to diagnose it early because it is possible to use some interventions that may halt the worsening of the symptoms and enhance the well-being of the person. Research from Alzheimer’s Disease International showed that when such a status is diagnosed early, costs in medical and care in the first years after the diagnosis may be significantly reduced to $10000.
- Individualized Care Planning
Regarding dementia, after diagnosis has been made, the dementia therapist involves the patient and the family in developing a treatment plan. This involves ways of approaching the situation where one’s thinking is not as clear as it used to be, including the use of memory books, changes to home environment and routine setting. Consultation with the therapist includes aspects on what should be done to promote cognitive activities including usage of puzzles, reading and social interactive activities. Previous studies have indicated that there is a possibility of enhancement of 20 to 30 percent among those who display dementia in case appropriate cognitive stimulation is provided.
- Emotional and Psychological Support
However, dementia is also not limited to memory and other cognitive processes but has significant effects on the person’s emotions and psychology and the family. Dementia specialist nurses also provide advice and counseling for the patients as they endure the difficult emotions brought about by the disease like anxiety, stress, and anger. They also treat family members and equip them with ways of handling stress, loss, and emotional demands of caregiving. Research also shows that approximately 30-40 % of caregivers experiencing dementia have features of depression and anxiety, which makes this support paramount.
- Family Education and Training
Cognitive remodifying also entails informing the family on the disease, its stage, and how they ought to handle the sickness. This education enables families to anticipate changes in the needs of their loved ones and how to effectively handle these changes. To enhance primary caregiver’s competencies, dementia therapists lead training on communication, handling the patient’s behavior, and personal care. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, such education can decrease the risk of moving a patient to a nursing home by as much as 20%.
- Behavioral Interventions
Patients suffering from dementia tend to develop behavioural problems like aggression, wandering, and confusion as the disease reaches advanced stages. Dementia therapists understand how to design behavioural strategies for dealing with these problems without the overuse of drugs. Such approaches include a well-organized environment with clear routines, rewards and punishment strategy, and a focus on diversions for specific complicated behaviours. It is critical to note that nonspecific treatments can decrease the intensity of behavioural manifestations by 60% and are safer than pharmacological therapies.
- Facilitating Long-Term Care Planning
Dementia being a terminal illness makes one require long-term care as the disease progresses. When it comes to preparing for such a change, dementia therapists help families with this process a lot. They help in identifying the prospects for long-term residential care, including home care, assisted living, as well as the specialized care facilities for dementia. The therapist assists families in decision-making by making the families compare the positive and negative consequences of each choice, hope, and resource that the patient and the family currently have, as well as what life the family and the patient would want to lead.
- Advocacy and Resource Connection
Families with dementia patients often struggle to maneuver through the healthcare system. Dementia therapists can offer support in finding other resources for the family like support groups, caregivers’ or respite services, and finances. They also refer families to the other agencies that can offer other forms of assistance, including the adult day care programs and home health services among others. The significance of such resources can be seen in the fact that in the United States over 16 million people offer informal care to patients suffering from dementia.
The Importance of Family Involvement in Dementia Care
Involvement of the family is one of the key approaches in managing people with dementia. Some researchers found that patients with good family support had better prognosis, their disease progressed slower, and they reported better quality of life. However, this task can be also very challenging, making physical and emotional efforts in keeping with the patient’s condition. That is why the position of dementia therapist, in helping families, is so necessary.
Dementia therapists know that families are in a tough position and can impart the skills that families need to get through this period. Dementia therapists work closely with families and assist in developing a caring atmosphere where the patient and the other family members are attended to.
The Challenges of Long-Term Care
Caring for patients with dementia long-term requires the identification of specific difficulties. In advanced stages patients need more extensive care and may need help with mobility, feeding, toileting, and so on. This can be very stressful for the family caregivers as they are tasked with doing all the work themselves leading to caregiver stress.
There are some effects worse in dementia patients, and dementia therapists can offer constant help and direction concerning all these. They assist in identifying care transition plans for families to effectively deal with the rising care needs and enable caregivers to find an outlet for their stress. They might make suggestions for improvement, including moving to a long-term care facility for the patient to have the appropriate level of care in a secure environment.
Conclusion
Like other health care professions, dementia therapists play a very important role in the process of managing dementia, giving support to both patients and their families. They also provide clients with emotional, psychological and practical support whereby families are empowered to offer the best care to their sick members. In this way, through collaborating with families, dementia therapists contribute to the establishment of a caring and supportive context that fosters recovery and long-term well-being. In light of such a difficult and progressive disease as dementia, the help and advice of a dementia therapist may help to improve the quality of life of the patient and his or her family.
