Dementia Care for National Sleep Foundation -myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theDementia Care for National Sleep Foundation. Answer: Introduction- The term dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a broad category of mental diseases causing a long-term effect in the form of gradual decreasing the ability to remember and think, thereby affecting daily functioning. Major symptoms in addition to the ones stated above include language difficulties, emotional problems, and decrease in motivation (Richardson et al. 2013). Thus, caring for people with dementia often encompasses several aspects of formal and informal care. While formal care practices include support from friends, family, and community members, informal care often refers to making architectural changes in the place where the patients live. This helps in creating an environment that supports the overall wellbeing and functioning of the elderly patients (McLaren, LaMantia and Callahan 2013). Caring for dementia patients poses several challenges due to the fact that the patients most often lose the power to speak or comprehend. Care approaches are therefor e adopted in a way that addresses the difficulties faced by the patients. According to research evidences, proportion of older people suffering from dementia, living in households reduces with age. Furthermore, estimates also indicate that approximately 81.1 million people will require appropriate residential care facilities for dementia, by the year 2040 (Prince et al. 2013). Thus, bringing about changes in the environmental design is gaining increasing attention as an essential aspect of care while treating people suffering from dementia and Alzheimers disease. Designers and facility administrators are now considering the long-term benefits of formulating design principles for developing a dementia free environment. This part of the assignment will critically evaluate effectiveness of changes in lighting as a part of dementia care services. Literature review- Guidelines that determine design changes for a dementia free environment typically discuss about several theories and hypothesis on the effectiveness of physical environment modifications and spatial organization in promoting the overall wellbeing and quality of life of dementia patients. Most common modifications have been identified as eliminating unnecessary clutters, removing paging systems, soft colours, creating familiar spaces, reducing risks and eliminating noise (Schrijvers et al. 2012). Similar findings have been elucidated by other researchers that suggested that residential facilities should be smaller in size, with controlled stimuli related to noise and enhanced visual access. Dementia patients need to visualize their environment for making an appropriate sense of their surroundings, to utilise most of their remaining capabilities. According to research evidences, effective lighting has been found to facilitate individuals with dementia to observe the places where they want to go for identifying rooms, spaces, equipments and symbols (Fleming, Kelly and Stillfried 2015). Furthermore, light modifications have been found to help them easily recognize faces of their acquaintances, carers and physicians. It also facilitates easy identification of gestures and body languages. Lighting modifications are responsible for increasing detailed contrast and apparent size of all objects (Marquardt, Bueter and Motzek 2014). Poor lightning or light positioned at inappropriate places often result in glare and reflect off polished floor surfaces or walls, thereby creating difficulties for dementia patients to move on their own. Such lack of illumination or glares is often considered dangerous for dementia patients since it increases risks of fall related injuries. According to research evidences, light therapy is considered as a promising non-pharmacological method for improving symptoms associated with dementia. Evidences suggest that the human circadian rhythm shows maximum sensitivity to short wavelength blue light for therapeutic purposes. Tailored lighting was found to create significant improvements in agitation, depression and sleep patterns among dementia patients (Figueiro et al. 2014). Effective light intervention was also found to significantly bring about improvements in circadian entrainment, and sleep efficiency. Significant reductions in depressive symptoms were also observed among dementia patients upon implementation of lighting interventions. Furthermore, the caregivers have also been observed to experience longer sleep duration (Fleming and Bennett 2015). Other evidences were also successful in establishing the fact that physical environment modifications play an essential role in the therapeutic environment for dementia pat ients. Role of a well-designed and supportive physical environment has been shown to foster healthy behaviour such as, enhanced social contact, reduced agitation and less dependence by dementia patients (Figueiro et al. 2015). Research studies have also elucidated the importance of lighting for changing the environment of people with dementia, such as, creating provisions for natural lighting in circulating spaces and providing opportunities for natural and external views (Hadjri, Faith and McManus 2012). Thus, maintenance of adequate balance between adequate and natural light levels are useful for eliminating glares, and reducing risks of subsequent falls (Garre?Olmo et al. 2012). Moreover, good lighting has also been found to enhance the visual environment that often results in an increase in optimism and renewed interest among the patients. This increases their mobility and helps them to remain more active (Sury, Burns and Brodaty 2013). Cool-white lights are often considered dis advantageous as they are deficient in blue and red lights and are found to deteriorate the warmth and aliveness of the indoor spaces in which the patients are kept. Discussion- On making several modifications in the environment in which the dementia patients were provided with optimal care services, several positive impacts were observed. The basic fact that older people suffering from Alzheimers disease and often require more amount of light for maintaining visual and non-visual functions, was considered while making the necessary environmental modifications. The major problems that were faced in the care setting include high rates of falls among the patients that increased rates of hospitalizations due to severe injuries, and poor sleep quality and disturbances among them (Kller 2015). This directly contributes to manifestation of agitation and hostile behaviour.Such problems generally occurred due to poor lighting and led to development of confusion in their daily routines. Further problems were also faced in the form of reduction in their activity levels and alertness, thereby increasing frequencies of their daytime napping (Chaudhury and Co oke 2014). Hence, the action plan was formulated that contained implementation of appropriate lighting modifications in the care facility. Major achievements were associated with use of bright lights in the living and indoor areas that showed a significant improvement in restoring the biological clock among the people with dementia. It also resulted in elimination of dimly lit areas and significantly reduced instances of suffering injurious or fatal falls. This showed direct impacts on restoring their biological clock. Significant outcomes were related to regulating the sleep/wake cycle for 24 hours, in the older adults suffering with dementia (Wong et al. 2014). The environmental modification also demonstrated a significant improvement in the overall wellbeing and quality of life of the patients. This was evaluated by the fact that the patients manifested fewer symptoms of agitation and depression, during and after the intervention period. Initially disruption of the circadian rhythm due to poor lighting was found to result in drastic changes in their sleep patterns. On the other hand, the aforementioned lighting modification helped in making the older people more active and alert throughout the day. The patients depicted increased productivity and showed better sleep patterns during night. Furthermore, significant reductions were observed in daytime sleep patterns. Use of vibrant colours in the walls of the rooms where the patients stayed resulted in influencing them to a great extent that made the patients engage more in daily activities. Improved participation in indoor activities was another observable change that made them enjoy themsel ves more during the day. In addition, less instances of night wandering and restlessness were reported, following the modification in environmental design. Bringing about modifications in the environment also helped in reducing use of pharmaceutical interventions such as, sleep inducing drugs that were initially administered to restore sleep patterns among the patients to normal. Furthermore, the older patients were found to participate more in their favourite activities, such as, gardening, watching television and playing cards. Furthermore, some of the patients also demonstrated an interest in participating in bush walking, under the supervision of the healthcare and support workers, employed at the care home. Conclusion- To conclude, it can be stated that direct benefits of the lighting changes were associated with the fact that it made the elderly patients enjoy their life and accept its vibrancy. The positive outcomes as observed by implementing the modifications such as, maximizing natural light benefited the dementia patients to a great extent. Taking efforts to install different types of artificial lighting and changing the positions of the lightings also help them in entering and leaving their rooms and the care centre with much ease. Maintaining appropriate uniformity and intensity of light in the care facility and controlling preferences of the lighting while allowing the residents to have full choice and control in deciding the lighting levels also improved their comfort. Hence, environmental modification based on lighting proved to play an essential part in providing optimal care services to dementia patients. Use of good lighting help them to utilise most of their capabilities and also compensated for their poor eyesight. It assisted the patients to find their way around familiar and new spaces and also helped them to undertake specific tasks, related to their daily activities or hobbies. Subsequent reduction in fall rates was another major benefit that improved the overall health and well-being of the patients and enhanced their satisfaction. Therefore, maintaining an environment that with dementia friendly did not necessarily involve huge installation costs or recruitment of builders. Simple arrangements not only enhanced well being of all patients living with dementia, but opportunity to the care providers for creating a sustainable living environment. References Chaudhury, H. and Cooke, H., 2014. 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