Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

Palliative Care Screening For Persons Living With Dementia In A Nursing Home, Shanika S. Pruitt

Dissertations

Problem: Dementia is rapidly increasing as the people of the world mature and life expectancy increases. As the world ages and the prevalence of dementia increases, nursing home placement will and is the most sought place for care of this population. Dementia is under recognized as a terminal illness and palliative care is underutilized for nursing home residents with advanced symptoms of dementia.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) initiative utilized a prospective, descriptive design. The Palliative Care Screening for the Elderly tool was administered to a purposive sample of persons living with dementia residing in the nursing home. Qualitative data …

Alzheimer's And Patient Caregiver Burnout: A Review Of The Literature, Madeline Hekeler

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The term “silent epidemic” is fitting for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as its negative impact is widely felt but rarely discussed. Burnout among AD caregivers has become an epidemic of its own as caregivers experience an increase in health risks, stress, and financial burden. This literature review focuses on caregiver burnout and how imperative it is that caregivers are better supported in their role. Researchers have developed instruments to assess and intervene in caregiver burnout that have shown effectiveness among caregivers and their families.Nevertheless, further longitudinal research is warranted regarding more effective interventions, including stress management and social support mechanisms.

Do Young Adults With Close Family Experiencing Alzheimer's Have Higher Depression Rates, Ali Sullivan

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Life-Like Robotic Animals In The Acute Care Setting To Assist In The Care Of Patients With Dementia, Abby Denby

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The purpose of this pilot project was to describe the effect of life-like robotic animals on the nurses’ ability to provide care, patients’ level of agitation, use of antipsychotic medications, restraint and sitter use for patients with dementia in an acute care setting. Nurses report challenges and feelings of helplessness while caring for patients with dementia. Dementia may cause depression, agitation, aggression (physical or verbal) and a decrease quality of life. Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) is a growing therapy in many healthcare settings but there is a lack of literature specifically related to the use of AAT in the acute …

The Effects Of A Dementia Simulation Experience On Attitudes Towards People With Dementia, Micah Huckabee

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: The neurodegenerative effects of dementia resulting in cognitive and behavioral impairments is plausibly one of the reasons for a societal stigma towards individuals with dementia. Societal stigmas are associated with decreased life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and decreased psychological well-being for stigmatized individuals. In an effort to improve attitudes towards individuals with dementia, this study utilized a dementia simulation to measure attitudinal changes after a dementia simulation. Methods: There were 33 participants in this study (13 male and 20 female) between the ages of 18 and 25. Participants completed a Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS) survey, and then they dressed in …

Interlace: Designing An Inclusionary Architecture For Alzheimer's Sufferers, Alexander Fashinasi

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis intends to address the increasing challenges the Alzheimer’s disease poses for our growing American population. The research begins by looking at the brain as a combination of components which make up the individual. Following this, the research compiles information on the Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms, followed by an analysis of the built environments effects on the condition.

Through analysis of precedent cases and the combined Alzheimer’s research, I chose to propose an experimental community in which those with Alzheimer’s can live a life with greater autonomy while simultaneously slowing the progression of the disease. I place this …

Alzheimer's Disease, Kirstin Fortune

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

This presentation is an overview on Alzheimer's disease. Signs, symptoms, pathophysiology and pharmaceuticals are all incorporated in this poster. The United States is planning to address the possible crisis of Alzheimer's with many initiatives.

Communicative Behaviors Elicited By Leisure Activities In Memory Care Units, Tarynn Clune

Honors Projects

A wide variety of leisure activities used in reminiscence care have been studied for their merits in terms of preventing cognitive decline, and increasing quality of life; however, little is known about what different types have to offer in terms of communicative opportunities. Communication with peers is imperative for quality of life, and is crucial for maintenance of relationships between the person with dementia (PWD) and their loved ones. As a result of this importance, an exploration of communication elicited by different activities facilitated in a unit was conducted. The communication explored in this study was solely vocal, and included …

Remembering Time, Jonathan Carey

Capstones

My parents were dressed in their Sunday best, heading to a church revival. I was 12 and still the baby of the family, so staying home alone was out of the question. My grandmother Lillian, who preferred to be called Nana, came to babysit me. She relished a little time away from the doldrums and senior citizen gossip that engulfed the high-rise building where she lived,five minutes from my house in Petersburg, Virginia. That evening, as the sounds of “The Young and the Restless” echoed through the house, I tiptoed downstairs to give Nana a playful scare.

Nonpharmacological Approaches In Dementia Care, Gay Lynn Warren

Master's Projects and Capstones

The 6A acute care unit has been seeing a higher number of patients that are afflicted with dementia. Often times, these patients display challenging dementia-related behaviors. It is commonplace for these patients to be medicated with a psychotropic medication in order to halt the challenging behavior. The global aim of this project is to improve dementia care on the 6A acute care unit. The specific aim, educating staff members about the benefits of nonpharmacological approaches in the management of challenging dementia-related behaviors and to encourage their use, is relative as the education is necessary before improvement can be expected to …

Driving In Early-Stage Alzheimer’S Disease: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Rebecca L. Davis, Jennifer M. Ohman

Peer Reviewed Articles

One of the most difficult decisions for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is when to stop driving. Because driving is a fundamental activity linked to socialization, independent functioning, and wellbeing, making the decision to stop driving is not easy. Cognitive decline in older adults can lead to getting lost while driving, difficulty detecting and avoiding hazards, as well as increased errors while driving due to compromised judgment and difficulty in making decisions. The purpose of the current literature review was to synthesize evidence regarding how individuals with early-stage AD, their families, and providers make determinations about driving safety, interventions to …

Connecticut's Elderly Population: An In-Depth Analysis Of Current And Future Trends In Elder Care, With A Focus On Dementia And Cognitive Decline, Emily J. Snodgrass

Honors Scholar Theses

The aging population in Connecticut currently represents ~15% of the state’s population but is anticipated to rapidly increase over the next 20 years. My thesis is an examination of the types of interventions and programs currently available for elderly persons with memory impairment and cognitive decline, as well as the challenges associated with caring for a larger elderly population. Data collected from interviews with CT healthcare and research professionals representative of the diverse specialties of aging together with an analysis of current research literature are used to demonstrate the importance of continued research and expansion of appropriate and accessible services …

Barriers To Music Therapy In The Care Of Those With Alzheimer's/Dementia, Karin E. Kvam

Honors College Theses

This pilot study examines the barriers caregivers encounter when implementing music therapy in the care of those with Alzheimer’s/dementia. An 8-question survey was distributed at two long-term care facilities and an Alzheimer’s support group to understand how often and in what ways music therapy is utilized, as well as what barriers caregivers face when using the therapy. Results indicated that, although the majority of caregivers report using music therapy, it is not implemented as frequently as it could or should be. Caregivers report a knowledge deficit as the main reason for not implementing music therapy. The data suggests that an …

Effectiveness Of A Pilot Gerontological Nursing Certification Preparation Support Program For Registered Nurses Working In Long Term Care, Gail B. Sprigler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Between 2000 and 2025 there will be a 30% increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Indiana (Alzheimer’s Association, 2010). Many individuals with AD and related dementia are cared for in long term care communities. Adequate knowledge and expertise of nurses caring for older adults, particularly those with dementia, is important for the delivery of quality care and the promotion of quality of life for residents living in long term care. This pilot project examined the benefit of a resource support program to encourage Gerontological Nursing certification for registered nurses in the long term care setting.