Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

This review of the literature describes epidemiological data, distinctive features, diagnostic methodologies, pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological treatments and a care approach with the Gentlecare method to Alzheimer's disease. Every year there are almost 10 million new cases of dementia in the world and there are no definitive therapies. The first-line symptomatic treatment is non-pharmacological. Another purpose of this paper is to describe the Gentlecare method and the characteristics of the Gentlecare operator. To approach Alzheimer's disease requires the creation of a therapeutic alliance centred on the well-being of the person. Gentlecare is a method of prosthetic assistance to people with dementia whose goal is to promote personal well-being. Prosthetic assistance has three elements: people, physical space, programs. Gentlecare adapts the physical and social environment with the aim of compensating the deficits and favouring the still intact functions of the person suffering from Alzheimer's. The first step is the biography collection, then an Evaluation Model is implemented. Gentlecare programming avoids inappropriate stimulation of the person. The activities are divided into: basic activities, necessary activities, essential activities and significant activities. The operator Gentlecare is a therapeutic agent that has all the latest informations on people, with empathic skills and is able to: observe, work in a team, develop individual projects and know how to analyse the relationship between environment and person. From the nursing point of view, there is an analysis of the level of mental confusion, of stress and of coping capacity of the person and the family, with attention to safety, the temporal space orientation and the performance of ADL and IADL.