Bereavement Care in Dementia

Bereavement Care in Dementia   academic discussion board for CAD203, focusing on bereavement care in dementia as covered in Module 3. make two posts. For your first post, choose ONE of the two topics below and write a short answer to share in your discussion group: 1) Describe some issues around grief and loss specific to people with dementia and explain related implications for care. 2) Describe some issues around grief and loss specific to carers and/or family members of people with dementia and explain related implications for care. Be sure to include references to support your claims. Use in-text citations to show these sources, and provide a reference list at the end, and then post your contribution on the discussion board. Before you post, think of ways you can encourage a comprehensive discussion. Try not to repeat the same topics as other students in the group. If you find it difficult to write about a new topic that has not been covered in the group, consider what new information you can offer in your post about that topic that has not already been addressed. However, there are a limited number of things you can talk about, so please don't worry if you have worked hard on your post and then discover that someone else has done something similar. And if you see that someone else has done something that you wish you had thought of, you could use this in your reflection for Assessment Task 3 - Part B, to talk about what you would do to improve your post. For your second post, comment on a peer’s post by replying to their post. For example, you might like to compare what they found with the information you presented, and the importance of both sets of statements to our understanding of bereavement. Use in-text referencing and include a reference list. We suggest a target of 400-500 words for each post. To create your posts please reply to this existing thread. For your second post, reply to a peer's post in this thread. Due Monday, 16th October, 2017, 11:59pm Note: Please try and complete your first post by Friday 6th October so everyone has time to work on their replies. Extra Note: Your Participation and Reflection task (go back to Unit Outline for details) is due on Friday 20th October 2017, so you will need to plan your activities closely. Please refer to the instructions written in red above and reply to students post below Students Post Grief is a normal response to loss, but people with dementia may not have the cognitive skills to make sense of their grief (Alzheimer Scotland,2011). An article by Gataric, Kinsel, Currie and Lawhorne (2010) reported on a symposium on grief and dementia where the importance of providing tailored interventions based on individual needs and comprehension abilities are needed for People Living with Dementia (PLWD)managing grief. Without supportive interventions PLWD may experience unresolved grief, discontent and uncertainty resulting in agitation, depression and other behavioural problems (Lewis & Trzinski, 2006). A person can be reactive knowing something is wrong but not knowing what that is (Alzheimer Scotland, 2011). The work of grief is complex and can be too difficult for people with cognitive impairment (Gataric et al., 2010: Watanbe & Suwa, 2017). PLWD have difficulty encoding and storing memories, difficulty understanding and making judgements due to hippocampal degeneration and loss of neuronal connections (Gataric et al., 2010: Watanabe & Suwa, 2017). PLWD also have difficulty communicating their feelings, making counselling interventions more complex (Gataric et al., 2010). Lewis & Trzinski (2006) found that PLWD in the early stages with short term memory loss would often retain that there was a death but forget who it was that died, sometimes thinking it was a parent or someone from the past who they knew as being dead. Often people in the latter stages could not understand the concept of death but often react from the surrounding stress and become confused (Gataric et al., 2010). O’Connor, Tan, O’Connor and Workman (2013) notes that people with cognitive impairments retain emotions and still experience grief and loss feelings. Watanabe & Suwa (2017) observed that PLWD in mourning present with different behaviours depending upon the stage of their dementia. Watanbe and Suwa (2017) note that it can take up to a year for someone to acknowledge a death and another year to store it in their memory. Lewis and Trzinski (2006) suggest using a spaced retrieval technique to help embed information. Watanbe and Suwa (2017) discuss the importance of giving small pieces of information, checking for recall, repetition and allowing time for understanding. Watanbe and Suwa (2017) suggest it is important to include the PLWD in the funeral process, speak of the person in the past tense and use reminisce therapy activities. Gruetzner et al. (2012) recommend PLWD to usually be told of a death but that they need to be supported with behavioural interventions even if they forget and re- experience the news as new news each time. Gruetzner et al. (2012) proposes various activities to assist PLWD with their emotions such as memory books, validation therapy, reminiscence, doll and toy therapy and just spending time sitting with someone to provide re assurance for insecurities and feelings of abandonment. Grief and loss is experienced differently by PLWD due to losses of memory and cognitive processing abilities. Best practice interventions and communications need to be explored. Johnannson and Grimby (2012), Gruetzner et al. (2012) and Watanbe and Suwa (2017) advocate for more education and guidelines for staff, family and PLWD for effective interventions to help deal with grief issues. References Alzheimer Scotland, Action on Dementia. (2011). Loss and bereavement in people with dementia. Information sheet, IS42 December 2011. Retrieved from https://www.pathwayshealth.org/dementia-care/dementia-patients-and -grief/ Gataric, G., Kinsel, B., Currie, B.G., & Lawhorne, L.W. (2010). Reflections on the under-researched topic of grief in persons with dementia: A report from a symposium on grief and dementia. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 27 (8), 567-574. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049909110371315 Gruetzner, H., Ellor, J.W., & Back, N. (2012). Identifiable grief responses in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Social Work in End of Life and Palliative Care, 8, 151-164. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15524256.2012.685439 Johansson, A.K., & Grimby, A. (2012). Grief among demented elderly individuals: A pilot study American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 30 (5), 445-449. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.11771049909112457009. Lewis, M.M., & Trzinski, A.L. (2006). Counselling older adults with dementia who are dealing with death: Innovative interventions for practitioners. Death Studies, 30, 777-787. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481180600853199 O’ Çonnor, M., Tan, H., O’ Çonnor, D., & Workman, B. (2013). Is the frequent death of residents in aged care facilities a significant cause of grief for residents with mild dementia? Progress in Palliative Care, 21, (1), 7-12. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1743291X12Y00000000031 Watanabe, A., & Suwa, S. (2017). Original research: Empirical research: qualitative: The mourning process of older people with dementia who lost their spouse. Journal of Advanced Nursing 73, (9), 2143-2155. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.13286