Alzheimer's and Dementia Health Care Structures

Health Care Delivery Structure

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease and the most prevalent root cause of dementia. In the present day, more than five million people living in America are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is the 6th prominent cause of death in the United States and is the 5th causal factor of death for individuals older than the age of 65 years old. It is estimated that the number of individuals suffering from this disease might even triple up by mid of the century with this number being expected to rise to one million for the U.S. (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2014). Despite the fact that plenty of the states in America were engrossed and pensive with issues of budgeting in the past four years, state policymakers have went on to develop and offer refinement to regulations on assisted living or residential care for Alzheimer and Dementia patients. No less than eighteen states, since the year 2010, have reported undertaking and enacting statutory, regulatory, or policy modifications which are impacting the future for Alzheimer's and Dementia care. Some of these changes include safety of life, the disclosure of information, standards and ideals for Alzheimer's and dementia, undertaking background checks and also the management of the medication being given. Other areas that change ought to be taken into consideration encompass the assessment of residents, training of staff as well as personnel and also safety from any kind of exploitation (Polzer, 2011). These aspects will be discussed in detail in the following segments.

To start with, there is the factor of regulation and licensure. Facilities that are yet to be given licenses as specialty care institutions might neither confess nor preserve residents with extreme mental damages and injuries and may well not publicize or declare themselves as a Dementia Care Facility or an Alzheimer's Care Facility. In the same manner, these facilities may not be allowed to state being as specializing in or being proficient to care for persons with dementia or Alzheimer's illness. Another aspect is the screening of residents. In the future, residents ought to be screened and permitted to enter the specialty care organization or institution. It is mandatory for this screening to encompass a clinical account, a psychological status checkup comprising screening for aphasia, an elderly sadness screen, and also screenings for how they physically function and also their behavior (Polzer, 2011). For instance, there are scores for physical self-maintenance and also for behavior which have been instituted by the state that have to be attained in order to allow the resident to move in and go on living in the facility (Polzer, 2011).

In terms of medication management, in any specialty care assisted living facility for residents who are suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia, it is mandatory for the medication to be administered and managed by a registered nurse (RN), a practical nurse who is licensed or a person who has been given license by the Medical Licensure Commission of that particular state to practice medicine. In addition, all of the personnel who are to be in contact with the residents in such facilities have to be given proper training on the distinctive topics and subject matters before they come into contact with the Alzheimer's and Dementia residents. In addition, it is imperative for such staff to have continuing education every year to be at par with any modifications. Specialty facilities taking care of individuals with Alzheimer's and Dementia have to have an administrator and personal care workforce or personnel as required to deliver satisfactory care and encourage systematic process of the facility (Polzer, 2011).

With regards to the changes in the economy, roughly one million people in America end up constructing their own residential care or assisted living societies. However, about ten percent of this number attains assistance from the Medicaid program. The option of having long-term care is favored by numerous individuals and their households for the reason that it places emphasis on resident selection, self-respect, and confidentiality, assisted living continues to develop and at the same time adjusting to variations in the needs and requirements of the consumers. These communities offer housing together with health care services which encompasses offering assistance in everyday activities such as dressing and taking a bath (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2014).