The Effects Of Occupational Therapy On Enhancing Quality...

The Effects of Occupational Therapy in Enhancing Quality of Life for Individuals With Dementia Dementia is a chronic syndrome that involves a progressive deterioration of brain function and leaves a person to suffer from not only a cognitive decline but physical, emotional, and behavioral changes as well. There are over ten different types of dementia and each cause significant changes in the make up of the brain and the brain function. Those changes include deposits of protein that form plaques, twisted strands of protein that form tangles, blood vessel blockages, fluid build up, and Thiamine deficiency. The two most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for an estimated 60 percent to 80 percent of cases, and†¦show more content†¦However, true dementia affects more than just short term memory and recall, this syndrome progressively debilitates every aspect of their life and ultimately alters the quality of life in which they live. Typical s igns and symptoms of dementia are memory loss, impaired judgement, difficulty with abstract thinking, inappropriate behavior, loss of communication skills, disorientation to time and place, neglect of personal care and safety, paranoia, and agitation. Family members and friends of those bothered with dementia are also challenged as their loved ones ability to function throughout activities of daily living and do so safely is compromised. Six drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that temporarily improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the amount of chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. The effectiveness of these drugs varies from person to person. While these drugs cannot cure dementia or repair brain damage, they may improve symptoms and create a better quality of life as the disease progresses. Non-pharmacologic therapies are often used with the goal of maintaining or improving cognitive function, the ability to perform instrumen tal activities of daily living, or overall quality of life. They also may be used with the goal of reducing behavioral symptoms such as depression, paranoia, apathy, wandering, sleep disturbances, agitation and aggression (2015). How is occupational therapy used to