Introduction
Environment can have many effects on a person living with an illness. Alzheimer ailment is a permanent and progressive brain disease that tampers with the memory and thinking ability. It affects people of all education, cultural and financial environments. It is the major basis of dementia in grown-ups. Dementia is memory loss and intellect interfering with everyday activities and existence (Weiner & Lipton 2003). Researches have maintained that is not a disease but rather, signs coming collectively with some ailments and situations. Other signs include agitation and depression (Weiner & Lipton 2003). Dan has been living with the illness for several years now. Following an interview, it is discovered that he becomes agitated at the noise coming from. This interview will help establishing the effects of environment on Dan who is living with Alzheimer disease.
Background history
In the 18th Century, the word dementia was being used in hospitals. It referred to psychological inability regardless of period, reversibility and pathological backgrounds. Dementia was later identified as cognitive paradigm in the 19th century. In the 1980s, delusions and hallucinations were added as signs of the disease (Weiner & Lipton, 2003). In 1906, a collection of brain cell abnormalities were identified as a disease by Doctor Alois Alzheimer. This was after one of his patients had died due to memory complications. There have been many breakthroughs in AD research after more than 100 years since the discovery. Researches in the 1960’s show a link between cognitive reduction and the number of ailments in the brain. This is when Alzheimer was identified as a disease. Drugs to cure cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer were approved after more research was done on Alzheimer disease genes (Weiner & Lipton 2003).
Dan’s occupational history
Examining Dan’s case, from the interview, it is established that he has worked with different companies in the UK. He worked for long hours and up to an overtime of 100 hours in a month. Day offs were minimal and his job was very demanding. Workers were humiliated in front of others whenever their productivity failed to meet the expectations of the boss. Some workers even collapsed and died in their work place. Facing these conditions meant the workers had to be very strong-hearted, since there was no occupational therapy. These jobs required enough motivation and therapy if Dan was to measure up. Dan has also disclosed that he takes pleasure in driving alone. He rarely undertakes any exercises and he does not participate in any sports activity.
Theoretical perspective
Occupational Therapy Practice Framework can be developed to make interventions in Dan’s conditions. This involves use of therapy in promoting the heath and participation of Dan in different activities. It emphasizes the interaction between a person, occupation and the environment where one resides, works and plays. In regard to Person-Environment Occupational Model, environment should be considered not from the interactive view but on transactive approach (Zgola, 1998). A transactive approach presupposes interdependence of an individual and the surrounding. Ones activities are influenced and are inseparable from background influences. A person’s situation changes as the environment changes. To help study the relations between individuals and the surrounding, a few taxonomies have been generated.
Environmental factors can be physical and also psychological. The psychological factors comprise social factors, for instance family approaches and government. Environment issues are categorized by the occupational therapy guidelines as cultural, economic and social factors (Zgola, 1998). Occupational therapy on environment revolves ensuring a patient is kept in an environment with minimal stress. Each environmental issue has its own different effects on a patient suffering from Alzheimer. Some changes should be made on the environment where patient living with Alzheimer lives (Moore & Marans, 1997). Examples of these transformations include; Painting with light and solid colors to avoid confusion, enhancing enough lighting in all areas of the house, getting rid of all cover mirrors, avoiding aggressive or upsetting TV programs. In addition, spoilt food should be disposed off, unused rooms closed, and keys kept away to avoid the patients from locking themselves in the house.
Slippery floors in the bathroom, toilet, and sitting room and in the kitchen should be avoided. Electrical appliances should be cleared from the floor while the water heaters should be set at recommended temperatures. In the bedroom, monitoring devices should be installed to notify when the patient is out of bed. In the kitchen, knives, blades, scissors and drugs should be locked up in drawers. Loud music and noise should be avoided within the environment (Moore & Marans 1997). Regarding to Dan, the environment has many impacts on his condition. Any loud noise that comes near him agitates him immensely. Running away, biting and banging his head on walls. These interventions will theretofore help avoid such occurrences.
Changes made on the Environment to enhance occupational engagement
The environment changes play a big role in ensuring that a patient with Alzheimer disease does not experience difficulties living around his home. Any difficulties can expose Dan to disease recurrence. Patients should be guided depending on the occupational exercises that interest them. Patients should be advised to make changes in the environment where they live.
Social Environment
- Advice them to hire drivers or to never drive when they are alone
- Take them for special outings
- Look for someone who will always take care of them.
Physical Environment
- Avoid wearing skid shoes or sneakers.
- Minimize windows opened to avoid seeing shadows and reflections.
- Change the lighting system in his house
- Paint the walls in light colors.
- Avoid noisy environment. For example listening to loud music and watching movies at the same time
Conclusion
Managing and supervising Alzheimer disease is challenging. Environmental changes are indeed recommendable, rather than medication. In some instances, medication cause more harm than benefit. Changing the environment to favor a patient with Alzheimer illness reduces physical and mental harm, for instance in the case of falls, shadows, hallucinations and agitation. Alzheimer patients, such as Dan should therefore be offered environmental and social interventions to help them cope with the disease.
References
Moore,G.T. & Marans, R.W. (1997) Advances in Environment, Behavior, and Design: Vol. 4: Toward the Integration of Theory, Methods, Research, and Utilization NY: Springer.
Weiner,M.F. & Lipton, A.M.(2003). The dementias: Diagnosis, Treatment, And Research. CA: American Psychiatric Pub.
Zgola,J. (1998). Alzheimer’s disease and the home: Issues in environmental design. Vol.5(3) 15-22.