Patient with dementia at the Department of Psychiatry

Demenca je proces upadanja duševnih funkcij - kot so razmišljanje, spomin in sklepanje - ki je tako huda, da moti opravljanje vsakodnevnih dejavnosti osebe. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions.Demenca ni bolezen, temveč pojem za skupino simptomov, ki jih povzročajo različne bolezni ali drugi vzroki. Veliko bolezni lahko povzroči demenco, a v večini državah je Alzheimerjeva bolezen še vedno najpogostejši povzročitelj demence in prizadene številne funkcije možganov, kar se odraža v nevropsihološki, psihiatrični in nevrološki simptomatiki. Vedenjski in psihiatrični simptomi Alzheimerjeve demence pa so tudi pogost vzrok nastanitve v negovalni ustanovi ali bolnišnici, saj se zelo zmanjša kakovost življenja pacientov. Obstaja veliko metod oz. terapevtskih prijemov, ki jih vključujemo v obravnavo oseb z demenco. Zdravljenje vzrokov demence pogosto temelji na uporabi zdravil, lahko pa vključuje tudi nefarmakološke ukrepe. Pristop k oskrbi pacientov z demenco zahteva kompleksnost in skupno delo različnih strokovnjakov. Del multidisciplinarnega tima so tudi delavci v zdravstveni negi. Spoznanje in razumevanje demence ter težav, ki jih bolezen prinaša, nam bo pomagalo vzpostaviti boljši odnos med pacientom, svojci in strokovnim osebjem.Dementia is the loss of mental functions - such as thinking, memory, and reasoning - that is severe enough to interfere with a person\u27s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Many different diseases can cause dementia, but Alzheimer\u27s disease is by far the most common cause for dementia in most countries in the world. Alzheimer\u27s disease affects numerous brain functions and has neuropsychological, psychiatric and neurological manifestations. Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer\u27s dementia are major reasons for institutionalization and reduced quality of life of patient. There are numerous methods i.e. therapeutic techniques to be employed in patients with dementia. Treatment is often based on using drugs and also on nefarmacological. An approach to the care for people with dementia requires complexity and collaboration of different experts. The multidisciplinary team approach has been acknowledged as the most effective way of recognizing health care needs population. Nursing staff is a part of such an interdisciplinary team. Comprehension and understanding of dementia and the problems that it brings will help us establish a better relationship between patients, relatives and professionals