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Mental and Behavioral Case Study

In: Other Topics

Submitted By xerisse
Words 380
Pages 2
April 13, 2015
HCS 245 - Sheela Alvarado
Case Study:
Mr. Speed is a 57-year-old gentleman who has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He is in the early stage of the disease at this point. Mrs. Speed is quite concerned about the progression of the disease, whether Mr. Speed can still be employed, if he can be left alone for several hours at a time, and what medications he will be required to take. How would you respond to her concerns? Is there other information that would be helpful to the Speeds? Where can they find more information about Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a disease affecting the brain, which is irreversible and progressive. What this means is that it slowly destroys a person's memory and thinking skills and symptoms begin to appear around 65. However, damage starts way before the symptoms begin to appear, which takes about 10 years.
This disease starts with developing memory problems, decline in cognition. People affected tend to suffer from impaired reasoning and judgment, and vision/spatial issues. As Alzheimer's worsens, problems such as getting lost and being unable to handle money situations becomes prevalent. Things like repeating themselves, utilizing poor judgment, and mood swings are also commonplace. In the most memorable stage of Alzheimer's, affected patients begin to lose recognition of loved ones and are unable to perform complex daily tasks, and at the final stage of Alzheimer's, the brain tissue has shrunk immensely, patients have become fully dependent on others for care, and lose their ability to communicate (NIH, 2012).
The National Institute on Aging has provided the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, which is considered to be the leading resource on the disease and serves to answer any questions. The ADEAR has both a website to visit and a phone number to give them a call

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