Dementia Guide For The Australian Retirement Village Industry

Question: Discuss about the Dementia Guide For The Australian Retirement Village Industry. Answer: DEMENTIA-If you could change the world for the better Caring for people with dementia is totally different from the type of the care provided to an elderly person (Amies, 2008). Although it is possible for many people with dementia to stay in their own home with a proper home support, some initiatives from the community can really make difference in their ways of living. In order to make this world a sustainable place for the people suffering from dementia, many policies have been undertaken. The National frame work for the Action on dementia (2015- 2019), was being released with the joint venture of the health ministers of Australia. The different priorities of action were the increasing awareness and reduction of the risks, development of the dementia friendly communities, support and resources of the community programs for promoting social engagement. Other areas of priorities of care were the appropriate and the consistent use of the diagnostic tools for the assessment, provision of training to the dementia patients (National Framew ork for Action on Dementia 201 5 - 201 9, 2018). Other strategy includes 'The National Dementia Strategy that enables the dementia patients to live in extra care housing facilities. Another initiative is the construction of retirement village for the dementia affected people, which are similar to some residential care units. The retirement villages provide shelter to population of retired persons in lieu of some costs. The average age of entry is 74 years (Dementia Guide For The Australian Retirement Village Industry 2018). Definitely these retirement villages are well designed as per the retired life yet the industry is still not aware of much knowledge of dementia. One of the better places of care for the dementia patients can be a retirement village that would be exclusively made for the people having dementia. The staffs and the organizational policies should be able to support a healthy ageing approach. Being physically and socially active, eating a proper diet, interaction wit h the peers can really reduce the risk of dementia. The staffs should be sensitive and should try out a consultative approach in order to eradicate the perceived stigma for the residents. There should be ambulatory care facilities. The designing of the room and the premises should be dementia friendly and should be safe. Depression in dementia patients Dementia is associated with a more than one clinical comorbities, of which depression is the one that goes under diagnosed in many of the cases with dementia and the adverse effects of dementia in patients not only increase the burden over the caregivers and the family but also results in declination of the cognitive and functional status (Scrutton Brancati, 2016). It is one of the most common types of clinical manifestation showed by the patients with dementia. The intensity of dementia depends upon the type of dementia the person had been suffering from. A person having dementia can be offered with a range of treatments such as antidepressants, self talk and other complementary therapies (Kessing, 2012). Talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapies, interpersonal therapies and counseling, reminiscence therapies, animal assisted therapies, multisensory stimulations can be used to reduce the anxiety and depression in patients with dementia (Scrutton Brancati, 2016). Acc ording to Kessing, (2012) talking treatment and strength based approach towards the dementia patients can be effective against moderate depressions. According to researches dementia is caused by lower levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Acute clinical depression due to dementia can be treated by antidepressants such as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and SNRI (Serotonin nor-adrenaline reuptake inhibitor). New drugs such as venlafaxine and cholineresterase inhibitors can be more effective than the older medications as older ones can cause side effects in patients suffering from one or more clinical comorbidities (Kessing, 2012). Depression can be prevented by good nutrition, routined physical activities, participation in active social life and engaging constructive activities. Physical activities have been found to be associated with the mental well being of the patients as it helps to create opportunities for mitigating the feeling isolation. Proper medications, love and care by the caregivers or the family members can improve the quality of life of the dementia patients (Kessing, 2012). References Kessing, L. V. (2012). Depression and the risk for dementia. Current opinion in psychiatry, 25(6), 457-461. Scrutton, J., Brancati, C. U. (2016). Dementia and comorbidities. Ensuring Parity of Care, The International Longevity Centre, London.[Google Scholar]. Dementia Guide For The Australian Retirement Village Industry. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.dementia.org.au/files/NSW/documents/AANSW_Dementia_Guide_for_the-Australian_Retirement_Village_Industry.pdf Mitchell, L. (2012). Breaking new ground: the quest for dementia friendly communities. London: Housing Learning Improvement Network. National Framework for Action on Dementia 201 5 - 201 9. (2018). Retrieved from https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/09_2015/national-framework-for-action-on-dementia-2015-2019.pdf