Dementia: Individual risk of Dementia increase as you get older the condition starts to occur around the age of 65. Dementia is a syndrome, which is associated on going decline of the brain and its abilities, this includes problems with:
- Memory Loss
- Thinking Speed
- Mental Ability
- Language
- Understanding
- Judgement
Individuals can become uninterested in their usual activities and have problems controlling their emotions; they also see and hear that other people don’t, such as hallucinations. As individuals with dementia can have difficulty planning and organising so maintaining their independence can become a problem so therefore they usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with decision making.
Motor Neurone Disease: This is a rare condition when parts of the nervous system become damaged, weak, and muscle wasting. Motor Neurone disease occurs when specialist nerve’s cells in the brain and spinal cord caused motor neurone stop properly they control important muscles activity such as:
- Gripping
- Walking
- Speaking
- Swallowing
- Breathing
As the condition continues individuals with motor neurone disease would find activities difficult and become impossible to do. The symptoms of motor neurone disease begin gradually over weeks and months usually on one side of the body and get progressively worse. There is no cure for motor neurone disease therefore aims to make the individuals feel comfortable and have the best quality of life possible. A medication called Riluzole improves overall survival but doesn’t stop progression of the disease.
Multiple Sclerosis: This is a disease affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord causing problems with muscle movement balance and vision each verve fibre in the brain, and spinal cord is surrounded by a layer of protein, which protects the nerve and helps electrical signals from the brain travelling to the rest of the body. MS destroys the protein and becomes damaged. This disrupts the transfer of these nerve signals causing a wide range of loss of vision, spasticity, ataxia and feeling very tired. There is no cure for MS but there are treatments that can help such as steroid injections and physiotherapy that can help relieve symptoms and make day-to-day living much easier. The cause of MS where the immune system goes wrong and does not defence against infection, so this attacks healthy body tissue, the symptoms usually develop between the ages of 15 & 45, MS is more common in women the men.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints hands, feet, and wrist are affected but it can also damage other parts of the body. Arthritis can make your joints swell and become stiff and feeling unwell and tired. The conditions can sometimes be very painful, making movement and everyday tasks difficult. This is common in 40 and 70 year olds and affects women more than men, when symptoms become worse. Arthritis happens when an individuals’ immune system, which usually fights infection, attacks the cells that line your joints creating them to become stiff and painful. There is no cure for the Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment can control symptoms and prevent disability treatments include
- Medication
- Surgery
- Physiotherapy
- Massage
- Acupuncture
Osteoporosis: This is a condition that affects the bones causing them to become weak and maybe likely to break and fracture mostly happen in the spine and hips but can affect other bones. Things that increase the risk of Osteoporosis are hormone-producing glands that become disease, a family history, and long-term use of certain medications, heavy drinking and smoking. There are no warnings signs for this disease until someone experiences a fracture or a fall, most common injures related to this disease is wrist fractures, hip fractures and spinal bones. If their doctor suspects an individual has this disease or at risk of developing it the condition may be referred to a bone density scan. It is important that individuals keep bones healthy and reduce their risk by:
- Regular Exercise
- Healthy Eating
- Changes to their lifestyle
Crohn disease: This is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system inflammation can affect any part from the month to the back passage and the small intestine. The common symptoms are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fatigue and weight loss. These cause of Crohn disease is unknown, the combination of factors may be responsible such as:
- Genetics
- Immune System
- Previous Infection
- Environmental Factors
- Smoking
Unit 14 P3: Describe the investigation that are carried out to enable the diagnosis of these physiological disorders
Coronary Heart Disease: Require many tests and investigations before a diagnosis can be made such as the Electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most widely used tests for detecting heart problems with the help of this that regulates the hearts cycle of contraction and relaxation. It’s important to have an electrocardiogram, as part of an initial evaluation for any individual who is suspected of or diagnosed with coronary heart disease the test is likely to be repeated periodally to find out the occurrence of heart examinations. An exercise tolerance test also known as an exercise stress test indicates whether the individual heart gets enough blood flow and oxygen when it’s working the hardest. The doctor orders the test if an individual has symptoms of heart disease or to test the effectiveness of the treatment their receiving during this test they also do the ECG test while taking blood pressure readings, as they would walk on a treadmill. Blood tests pick up abnormalities that influence how well the heart working e.g.: they can detect raised levels of cholesterol, which may lead to CHD, abnormal levels of thyroid hormones which can affect the heart muscle cells are damaged in a heart attack. High-resolution images of the heart, brain and blood vessels are given by X-Ray computed tomography and CAT scans these tests are useful for evaluate disease for the largest artery in the body.
Breast Cancer: Has may investigations that take place before a diagnosis can be made such as a Biopsy is when a sample is taken of lump or abnormal area the biopsy sample is then analyzed in a laboratory and the cells are examined this allows the doctors to see exactly what type of cancer it is and whether its likely to grow slowly or more quickly. There are many types of biopsies that can be used including core needle biopsy, blood tests, and fine needle aspiration and excision biopsy. Scans can measure the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body or nearby this is called staging the cancer. Once the type and stage of the cancer is known the doctors can discuss with the individual how best to treat them. The different types of scans that can be used include ultrasounds, mammograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to create a picture of the breast tissue. It is generally used, as a test to a mammogram an ultra sound is the best way to check whether the lump is a solid or filled with fluid a mammogram is one of the most important tools to diagnose breast cancer. X-Ray on the breast tissue to obtain a picture of the insides of an individual breasts. The procedure is very safe and it doesn’t make more than 20 minutes there is some discomfort and pain in the breasts when the breast is pressed on an upper and lower plate. MRI imaging technology used in he diagnosis of cancer unlike a mammogram that uses X-Rays to get the images of the breast, MRI use magnets and radio waves to create 3D images of the breast tissue. Sometimes a dye is injected in to the individuals arm cancer cells need a large amount of blood supply for there growth and the MRI shows where and whether the dye is concentrated in certain areas indicating cancer cells and the picture it appears as a white dark background.
Unit 14 P4: Plan a care pathway for each physiological disorder including the roles of relevant practitioners
Cancer: A care path way contains different elements together with planning, implementation, followed by an ongoing review in healthcare a care pathway is viewed as a multi disciplinary outline of care. Every single individual will need a care pathway that is right for them however every service user will want to know that they are moving swiftly through the right steps of making sure that accurate diagnosis are being made and appropriate treatments service users want clear information about what is to happen at each step and when. Care path ways offer many benefits such as:
- Improve multi-disciplinary communication, teamwork and care planning
- Help empower patients
- Help improve communications between different care sectors
A patient with cancer will be advised to either take medications or surgical treatments some individuals might have to do both to get fully recovered the care that will be given to an individual will be based on their measurements and observations to receiver from cancer you will need to have surgical treatment the patient will get few options to choose from such as wedge resection this can be used to remover a small tumour, lobotomy is the removal of the breast to remove all the cancer and tumour other treatments for lung cancer are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Supportive care provision must be made for the service user such as:
- Hospital teams including the clinical nurse specialists for breast cancer
- Primary health care team would provide for care at home
- General practitioner should be informed within 24 hours of the diagnosis, treatment plan and medication
Patients who receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy should have regular contact during the treatment schedule continued follow up can be with the physician, oncologists or nurse led. Patients must have access to the breast cancer nurse/key worker at the clinic also patients who have palliative treatment maybe referrers to the Hospice team they would be offered:
- Full information about their condition and how to control it
- Involvement in making decisions about their treatment
- Regular checks to ensure that their cancer is under good control and is getting the right treatment
- X-Rays
- Scans
- Medication
- Professional advice
A care plan is created up with detail it lets health professionals know who is going to do what and when together with the details of all agencies involved. A care plan is an agreement between the service user and the health professional to help them manage their health day to day. The care plan is to help service users rather than the GP and other healthcare workers that look after them.
Primary Care: Is the type of care that happens in the community outside hospitals primary care is the cares delivered by the people you normally see when you have first health problem.
Secondary Care: This the care carried out in a general hospital secondary care is a healthcare and can be either elective care or emergency care. The elective care means planned specialist, medical care or surgery usually following referral from a primary or community health professionals such as a GP.
Tertiary Care: There are specialist care establishments such as stroke rehabilitation clinics; spinal injury units and cancer care oncology units.
Multiple Sclerosis: Individuals living with MS need clear information as to how and where they can get services by the secondary and social care working together they can ensure that individuals get the right care at the right time. During the process of developing the care pathway it has to be agreed as a “person centred” putting the person at the centre of the assessment, valuing their contribution and listening to and learning about what they want to achieve but also easy to understand. Having established this approach all professionals must agree with jargon free and include all primary and secondary health and social care services available to service users affected by MS it must demonstrate how each agency can be accessed and by whom.
Medical:
- Neurologists
- MS nurses
- Symptom management
- Disease modifying treatments
Community Health Services:
- GP’s
- District nurses
- Physiotherapy
- Speech and language
- Therapy
- Dietians
- Chiropody
- Opticians
- Complementary therapies
Social services:
- Support
- Advice
- Independent living
- Equipment at home
- Adaptations
- Respite
- Day care
- Housing advice
- Benefit advice
- Advocacy
- Careers assessments
Unit 14 P5/M3: Explain the care strategies that can be used to support individuals with each of the physiological disorders
Alzheimer’s: A wide range of health and social care services are available to people with dementia and their careers there are many different types of health and social care services including home care and day care as well as the services provided by doctors and nurses. Most services are arranged through the NHS or local authority, social services.
Doctors: Provide a range of services to people with dementia if a service user was worried about their memory or concerned about the memory or unusual behaviour of someone close to you the GP may diagnose a condition or specialist tests are needed or dementia is suspected the doctor may refer them to a memory clinic.
Consultants: Are doctors who have had extensive training and experience in a particular area of speciality of the consultant will depend on the and symptoms of the person being diagnosed.
Neurologists: Specialist in disorders of the brain and nervous system
Geriatricians: Specialists in the physical illness and disabilities of old age and the acre of older people
Psychiatrists: Diagnose and treat a wide range of mental health problems
Old age psychiatrists: Who have further training in the mental health problems of older people
Physiotherapies: Can advise on exercise for people at all stages of dementia they can also advise carers on safe ways of helping someone to move home visits can be arranged.
Ears, teeth, eyes and speech professionals: Problems with hearing, teeth, speech or sight can negatively impact the well being of confusion or distress. The person may be unable to tell others that they are in discomfort so it is important to make sure these areas are checked regularly.
Dentists: Professionals dental advice should be obtained as soon as dementia is diagnosed because dental treatment may become more difficult as symptoms progress
Optometrists: Problems with sight can add to the confusion of someone with dementia the service users eyesight should be checked regularly by an optometrist who will also examine the eyes for signs of glaucoma and cataract and other eye and medical conditions
Speech and language therapists: Can advise someone with dementia and their carer on ways of communicating more effectively and on relieving and swallowing difficulties. The GP maybe able to refer the person to the local speech and language department directly.
Residential care: Funded by NHS this helps the individuals with their personal care e.g.: washing and dressing the people in the residential home are given 3 meals a day this can be useful for them as they may not be able to cook when they may are in their own home and this may lead to them not getting enough to eat the home ensures that the individual is safe and secure and is to give emotional support and help them to live as independently as possible which they may not be able to do within their own home. A residential home offers friendly environment where everybody is encourage to join in activities and events this can give the individual a sense of confidence now they are socializing because they may have socially withdrawn themselves when they are living at home, these events such as wheelchair fitness routine, karaoke nights, coffee mornings and days out to local attractions. The Alzheimer’s sufferers will have a health and mobility assessment before they go into a residential home they will only have a place in a home if they can’t live independently in their own home or they are struggling alone and depending on home care. Services may also come into the home to visit like hairdressers, chiropodists, nail technicians and also medical visitors such as a local doctor the individuals GP may make a visit if they can’t go to check-ups and social workers if they need this service. The individual will be put into a home with their permit because Alzheimer’s is a very progressive disease and their skills within their home can decrease rapidly which can become very frustrating for the individual as they are used to living independently. As the individual starts to deteriorate they may find they need extra care other than the home care they are receiving isn’t enough for them to live independently. As well as this being a reason for the individual moving into residential care they also may need the residential support because they may not have any direct family to care and support them with their progressive disease, family can play a huge part of the caring process with somebody with Alzheimer’s as they can help with basic everyday things such as washing up, shopping and even socializing. Also the individual may become a severe danger to themselves because there house isn’t adapted to their needs, there mobility is deteriorating and they are at risk of trips and falls they may start to forget to do simple things such as forgetting turn the gas cooker off, forgetting to turn the tap of and leaving on the fire they can become oblivious to these things because of their memory loss due to the disease attacking there short term memory, as well as this they can become very confused and start to do thing such as ring family or friends and telling them something that isn’t true which may make them very alarmed for example they may tell them that they are being burgled or they have are moving away etc. the individual dose this because they can revert back to their childhood and past memory this can become very distressing for family and close friends This can also make the individual very vulnerable to danger as they may forget to lock doors and windows and this can make them an instant target if they live alone and confused. An occupational will do a needs assessment with them within their home to see if they can do anything practically to assist them to carry on living independently but if this can’t be done and they are a great danger to themselves they may be given the option to move into residential care can help this and help control this deterioration by reminding them to do simple things with prompts and sticky notes and also do things for them such as cooking there dinner and washing so the careers can make sure that they have tuned taps off and gas cookers to prevent any danger from occurring.
Aids for living: Aids for living can assist somebody to live at home independently. There are many things that can help the individual around their house like; food preparation and eating aids, personal care and grooming aids, clothing adaptation aids, reaching and mobility aids and personal home and safety aids. These things can range from small aids such as adapted cutlery and non-spill cups if somebody struggles with their grip, telephones with bigger numbers if they have developed sight problems also there are phones where there is a speed dial with a picture space so it can hold a picture of their doctor or a family member so it is much easier for the individual to remember who they are and also there phone number instead of having to remember it and dial it. They can also do bigger adaptations such as stair lift’s Zimmer frames and enforced railings for people who struggle with balance, another adaptation for someone with Alzheimer’s is flash cards, instruction posters and post stick notes reminding them to do something and jogging there memory. To get these adaptations and advise them individual would contact their Occupational Therapist who will advise them on equipment and strategies hat can help them with everyday activities. If the individual does not have a care pan and therefore doesn’t have an occupational therapist then they can be contacted through their GP and social workers. The NHS can give certain amount of equipment such as walking sticks, walking frames and wheel chairs. Aids of living are a large support for somebody with Alzheimer’s as they starts to loose their recent memory they may need this extra support such as mobility support, memory joggers and instructions. Flash cards can start to become a regular memory activity to slow the memory loss process down. Aids of living are designed for the individual who is developing Alzheimer’s to live independently as long as possible with the help of aids that are available to them.