To provide better and more efficient patient care, it is necessary to systematically organize all activities related to patient management and share information among all professionals involved. It is customary for the outgoing doctor to update the entering doctor on the patient’s condition. Careful consideration of patient requirements through care coordination can lead to excellent clinical outcomes. Evidence-based ways to prevent drug errors are implemented through care coordination, improving the quality of medical care (Wager et al., 2021). Nurses create treatment plans that consider every aspect of a patient’s life, from their mental health to their social and cultural contexts. Planning allows for the execution of actions that meet those requirements. This evaluation can help doctors design a treatment strategy for those with Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Individuals with memory loss will benefit from this evaluation since they can access information about local resources. There must be a plan in place to treat patients with cognitive impairment.
Forgetfulness and disorientation are common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, a form of Dementia that affects brain processes. The alarming rise in the incidence of this brain disorder across the United States poses a serious threat to national security. In 2020, 5.8 million people were diagnosed with AD; experts predict the figure will double by 2060. According to a recent study (Lumba-Brown et al., 2018), Dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a typical kind of Dementia in the elderly (those 67 and up). Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the abnormal buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in and around brain cells. This buildup leads to a chaotic proliferation of brain cells. Lack of food and water causes brain cells to die, resulting in a smaller brain. The early indications of this condition include the inability to remember previous conversations or events, difficulty locating objects, difficulty finding the correct words to express oneself, asking the same questions repeatedly, and a general lack of sound judgment. Signs of advanced Alzheimer’s disease include a decline in cognitive abilities, the inability to express oneself, incontinence, and excessive sleep.
Analyzing Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disorder that affects adults typically above the age of 67 and those with a strong family history of the disorder. There have been cases of this condition affecting children. Symptoms might range widely in intensity from one individual to the next. However, while Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has no cure, its symptoms are treatable (Burke et al., 2019). Slowing memory and cognitive function medication includes donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine. The pharmaceutical industry has been tasked with developing effective treatments to combat the spread of this ailment. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by neurodegeneration caused by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain (AD). A total of about 55 million people around the world are thought to be affected. According to the CDC’s report, the average life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is between 4 and 10 years. Some people with disabilities have a 20-year life expectancy or more excellent. Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid biomarkers phosphorylated Tau and total Tau is essential in this subtype of Alzheimer’s disease. These indicators aid in early diagnosis by providing the correct information at the right time. AD patients receive pharmacological and nonpharmaceutical care from AD management team members, including physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists, mental health specialists, and social workers.
Best Practices for Improving Alzheimer’s Disease in Patients
AD patients can be better cared for with the help of HCT. Wearable devices, EMR, and Safe Health applications are technology tools that improve safety, independence, symptom management for neuropsychiatric disorders, and caregiver burden. With the advent of video conferencing software like Zoom, doctors and patients may have remote consultations, reducing the frequency patients need to visit medical facilities. It is essential to train primary caregivers to use technology to benefit their patients (Wolpaw et al., 2018). Imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography, computed imaging technology, and magnetic resonance imaging have proven helpful in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Nurses can help patients with AD stay motivated, calm their fears, and gain confidence in their abilities by setting SMART goals with them. The provision of occupational therapy for activities of daily living, the prevention of falls, and the promotion of mobility, whether in or out of doors, are among the targets set. While establishing these goals, think about how they will be achieved and the criteria by which they will be judged to have been met. Home health nurses caring for seniors with Hypertension should encourage their patients to exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Insisting on having a loved one accompany the patient to the mailbox is essential. Fall prevention is a top priority, so patients should be taught how to use a walking frame properly. Patients can help with dinner preparations by peeling and chopping vegetables alongside their families. Indicators of success will include the individual’s capacity to stroll with a walking stick, the distance walking to the post office, and the time the individual can stand while conducting an activity. After four weeks of treatment, the patient will feel comfortable grocery shopping and preparing a weekly family meal with minimal assistance.
Assumptions and Points of Uncertainty
Many older Alzheimer’s patients at Mt. Sinai Hospital saw dramatic improvements in their ability to communicate, manage their bowels and bladders, and recognize familiar faces in the months following their hospitalization. Patients have been transferred to other hospitals that accept their insurance. Care is disrupted when patients have to move because of money problems, which decreases the likelihood of successful treatment. There is a negative effect on patient outcomes when primary care physicians are changed due to a transfer. Nurses caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease should be mentally ready to handle a variety of outcomes.
Specific Goals to be Established to Resolve Alzheimer’s Disease
The management team for individuals with Alzheimer’s should create individualized treatment strategies based on the patient’s disease progression. Individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes or Hypertension require care tailored to their specific needs. Every patient is unique, and so is the care plan that must be developed for them. Carrera et al., 2018). Imagine a situation when a person needs medical attention but cannot get it due to a lack of resources or distance. In such a case, medical staff can provide family members with the necessary skills to manage the issue at home or arrange for appointments and visits to be conducted remotely utilizing tools like Zoom and video conferencing. Caregivers need training in gentle handling techniques to help make the patient’s home environment safer by eliminating potential dangers, getting the patient moving and exercising, and helping them make dietary changes.
Significant and Available Community Resources for an Effective and Safe Care Continuum
For the patient to maintain excellent standards of care after being released from the hospital. If a care coordination plan is to provide patients with the quality care they need, it must have sufficient funds to do it. The needed amenities include a pharmacy, clinical equipment, fresh produce, therapy services, a gym, and a virtual Alzheimer’s disease support group online. Fruits and vegetables will make it easier for the patient to alter their diet. Access to online support groups and their professional advice will be invaluable to the patient.
It is helpful to have access to community health advisors who can provide information and guidance across the treatment continuum. People with Alzheimer’s disease receive help from community volunteers and public health activists in securing necessary medical and social assistance. Patients and their loved ones benefit from the social support they offer. Other assets include law enforcement officers, nurses, teachers, clergy, and social workers (Otis-Green et al., 2019). There is a free, round-the-clock helpline available to members of the community. Ensuring all local AD sufferers have the same access to care is a moral issue. Care should be provided with sensitivity to the patient’s cultural values.
Conclusion
Preliminary care coordination improves care coordination by increasing information flow and using available community services. Care coordination from Mt. Sinai Hospital to other hospitals and clinics is helpful for patients who are being discharged or moved from Mt. Sinai. Potential impediments to a trouble-free changeover are recognized. When money is short, innovative techniques are used to treat patients. Nurses and doctors have acquired specialized training to better care for those with Alzheimer’s disease.
References
Burke, A. D., Goldfarb, D., Bollam, P., & Khokher, S. (2019). Diagnosing and treating depression in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology and Therapy, 8, 325-350. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-019-00148-5
Carrera, P. M., Kantarjian, H. M., & Blinder, V. S. (2018). The financial burden and distress of patients with cancer: understanding and stepping‐up action on the financial toxicity of cancer treatment. CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(2), 153-165. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.3322/caac.21443
Lumba-Brown, A., Yeates, K. O., Sarmiento, K., Breiding, M. J., Haegerich, T. M., Gioia, G. A., Turner, M., Benzel, E. C., Suskauer, S. J., & Giza, C. C. (2018). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on diagnosing and managing mild traumatic brain injury among children. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(11), e182853–e182853. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2698456/
Otis-Green, S., Thomas, J., Duncan, L., Walling, A., Lieto, C., Kung, J., … & Wenger, N. (2019). Advance care planning: Opportunities for clinical social work leadership. Clinical Social Work Journal, 47, 309–320. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-019-00709-z
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2021). Health Care Information Systems: a Practical Approach for Health Care Management. John Wiley & Sons. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=io1SEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR15&dq=Evidence-based+ways+to+preventing+drug+errors+are+implemented+through+care+coordination,+improving+the+quality+of+medical+care&ots=X5Mnmka8cc&sig=dcepsJDOe4Vj2Wmrbq-Yv9ySirU
Wolpaw, J. R., Bedlack, R. S., Reda, D. J., Ringer, R. J., Banks, P. G., Vaughan, T. M., … & Ruff, R. L. (2018). Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology, 91(3), e258-e267. https://n.neurology.org/content/91/3/e258.abstract
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