Replies to the Dementia Case Study

Reply 1: Dena Payne (318 words)

John and Lidia are elderly persons who are having dementia. The couple has been forced to modify their living situations to differ from how they were living before. The modifications they have been doing is to primarily to satisfy their abilities (Broderick & Blewit, 2015). The couple has been forced to stop accessing the upstairs of their home because they cannot use the stairs. John and Lydia are termed to be in the process of losing their control systems as shown by the three models related to cognitive changes through the lifespan of a person. At this point in the age of John and Lydia, they are prone to the progression of dementia and the loss of their control process. The sequence in dementia has contributed significantly to the couple's inability to come up with a meaningful idea and make their own decisions concerning the same.

The couple has a son, but the son seems not to be careering about the living status of his parents. It is authentic that there should be protective cares that the couple should be provided with (Broderick & Blewit, 2015). For example, the couple's diet should occasionally be reviewed to come up with the best diet for them as their ages advances. The couple should be taken to a medical facility for their medical conditions to be reviewed, treated if any complication is detected and the doctor's recommendations taken into careful considerations.

As a case manager, I prefer that the son is engaged in talks by elderly protective professional and be taken through the importance of care to his elderly parents. The professionals need to tell the son the most critical type of care that is required by the elderly couple. I would prefer that the ground floor of the house of the old couple be modified to accommodate all the things they might be required for their day to day living.

Reply 2: Lilia Garza(313 words)

The couple, in this case, is advanced in age, and hence their abilities related to physical and cognitive have indeed declined. The memory functions have considerably reduced and therefore have led to occasional confusion. The confusion and memory loss have made their fluid intelligence to decline appropriately (Broderick & Blewit, 2015). There is a possibility that they also have dementia since it is also a syndrome that is known to be affecting functional domain. Since the reasoning, working memory, ability to regulate themselves are affected as the years advance above 30 years, showing that there might be some chronic and progressive disease processes in the brain. Therefore, the functional rate of the brain is lowered, therefore diminishing judgment, language, and motivation, showing that they might have Alzheimer's disease which is known to be the most common type of dementia. In this case, both of the couples are showing the signs of memory loss and confusion. Since the couple is not able to use stairs, there is a high possibility that they are suffering from general joint pains which are most probably caused by arthritis.

In this case, as a case manager I would advise the son who should be the sole caretaker of the parents to take his elderly parents to a health facility for their brain functions to be evaluated, and in general, their mental health is sifted. The couple and the son should be carefully advised on the best activities that would enable them to reduce the rate at which their memory performance is diminishing. Since the couple needs special care and attention, a caretaker should be brought to their help to help them maintain the doctor's recommendations for their excellent health maintenance. Therefore, as I conclude I would prefer that a professional caretaker should be brought to the home of the couple to help them maintain their conditions not to worsen constantly

Reply 3: Leon Rankins (329 words)

As elderly persons, John and Lydia are faced with many challenges that are barring them from retaining a Healthy Living. The fact that in their early stages of life, they broadly depended on each other for their continuity. Both of them are acting as the support system for one another due to the fact, both of their sons are not able to offer them the support they might be required from them (Broderick & Blewit, 2015). One of the sons is forced to divert his attention to his wife who is also having some health problems, but the other son does not care about the elderly parents and therefore, resisting to offer support to the parents. The fact that they are not able to able to use their bathroom upstairs risks their life to serious sanitation related problems since they are only forced to use buckets as their toilet. Lydia if suffering to advance dementia. Dementia is known to be an illness that is aimed at affecting the important functional domains resulting from chronic problems and other brain-related problems. Dementia affects the memory working, self-motivation, language and their general judgment. The sanitation situation present amongst the couple provides evidence that the elderly couple might be attacked by some bacteria which in turn shall affect their immune systems.

Therefore, as a professional given a task to handle this case, I would first consult house designers to help in designing a restructure of the ground floor to be able to accommodate all the needs of the couple include the bathroom and the toilet being shifted from the first floor to the ground floor. I would also suggest that if there are any relatives of the elderly couple who can migrate to the home to assist them to maintain good health and keep them company. The health status of both the couple should also be appropriately evaluated in to have a knowledge of the type of care that the couple should be given

Reply 4: Lisa Cranford-Bess (354 words)

From the case study of John and Lydia, it is evident that they are suffering from the complications which are brought about by the fact that they are advanced in age. John and Lydia are just like other elderly couples in the world who are suffering from the same conditions they are going through without proper care from their family members. The sons of the couple are not there to care for their parents. Hence, it is evident that the couple lacks the social support which comes from the family members since the son who is willing to support them is also trying to help his wife who is having a mental problem (Broderick & Blewit, 2015). From the case study related to John and Lydia, it is evident that the couple might be suffering from Dementia which is a condition associated with constant diminished memory function and confusion. The confusion and reduced memory function can be as a result of the chronic complications and progressive brain problems. The couple is under hardship life since they not even able to access their bathroom to use.

As a case manager in this case stud, I would first prefer to engage the resisting son into meaningful and if possible bring in between a mediator who would possibly help to mediate between the couple and the son if by any chance there were some grudges between them. I would also recommend that the couple is taken to a long-term care facility for the elderly. Long term care facility is a very reasonable step and would see the couple get the proper care they desire. Secondly, I would also advise that the couple be provided with qualified caretakers, who would always be there for them whenever they need their support. Another issue that I would address is that the house should be restructured in a way that all of the things they might need to use are accessible on the first floor. And lastly a proper care should be taken and evaluation taken on the health of the couple, to find the best care for their state of health.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewit, P. (2015). The Life Span: Human Development for Helping Professions. Pearson. Retrieved December 20, 2017, from https://m.albris-books.com