Alzheimers Disease Health Promotion Case Study :: Alzheimers Disease Essays

Introduction     This section will discuss the impact of Alzheimers unsoundness on racial, cultural, and sexual practice variables, with the focus being on the various approaches to c ar of the ailment. Developmental stages and tasks will be discussed for both the client and the attentiongiver.Gender and Culture     Alzheimers disease and related dementias affect all races, ethnicities and cultures equally. (Anonymous, 1998) Of people over 65 an estimated 6-10% will be affected by some form of dementia. (Hendrie, 1998) It is only in gender where we see slightly more women than men who are affected by this destructive illness. (Lautenschlager et al., 1996) The only controllable risk factor that is known at this acme is cigarette smoking. In a large study in Germany smoking cigarettes doubled the risk of dementia in the older population. (Ott et al., 1998)      Alzheimers disease patients can break through for 3-20 or mo re years. It is not the AD that kills the patient, rather it is diseases of aging and/or inactivity, with pneumonia being the leading cause at 70%. This is followed by heart disease, stroke, and cancer. (Thomas, Starr, & adenosine monophosphate Whalley, 1997) Cultural Differences     Race, culture, religion and ethnicity all play a part in how we care for our elderly. Each family makes decisions based on background, experience, expectations, knowledge base, and economics. Most people would care to be able to care for their aging parent or spouse with as little disruption to lifestyle as possible. Alzheimers Disease, however, is a full condemnation commitment, not just eight hours a day, but "24/7", as the current idiom implies, the patient needs continuous care. Sleep habits are disturbed, wandering is common, medications must be carefully controlled, safety is always important. Home care soon becomes frustrating and exhausting if left to one or dicken s caregivers. When the primary caregiver has his/her own medical needs to see to, is also aged, or is the parent of young children as well, the burden can become overwhelming. In-home care is a possibility as is placement in a live-in facility, but both are expensive alternatives.     In California ethnic minorities make up a large part of our population. In the book Culture and Nursing Care A Pocket Guide, there are characteristics of these groups and generalizations are made nearly how they care for their elderly. (Lipson, 1996) The following table highlights some of these groups that are represented in the Bay Area.American Indian          Status of "elder" begins in middle age.