Management of Long-Term Conditions: Adapting and Implementing Nursing Care in Relation to Stroke, Dementia or Chronic Respiratory Disease

Abstract

The review examined how dementia patients manage chronic diseases using a systematic literature review methodology. Our systematic methods examine MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase, and Allied and Complementary Medicine to incorporate a variety of perspectives and studies. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were included in the study to account for the diversity of research on the topic. The sophisticated synthesis of the data made available by the inclusive method allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and solutions to the long-term sickness management of dementia patients.

This synthesis revealed significant aspects of the management of chronic disorders associated with dementia. The investigation indicates that among the signs of dementia are forgetfulness, poor comprehension, communication difficulties, and behavioral and psychological issues that provide serious challenges. It highlighted how important it is to modify routines, use cognitive aids, and consider physical limitations to improve dementia patients’ ability to manage their care. It also underlined how important it is to bargain for self-management support, particularly regarding caregivers’ availability and skill.

This investigation also highlighted the importance of healthcare providers in assisting persons with dementia in managing chronic illnesses. It underlined how important collaboration and communication between caregivers and professionals are. This in-depth examination clarified several significant facts. It first demonstrated how crucial it is to give people with dementia as much autonomy and dignity as possible when making decisions regarding their care. Second, it stressed the importance of caregivers in providing needed support. Finally, it noted the importance of good working relationships and communication between caregivers and medical professionals to deliver the best long-term dementia care.

Key Words

• Dementia: A set of neurological disorders that cause cognitive decline, affecting memory, thinking, behavior, and daily tasks. Mental limitations make long-term condition management difficult, limiting an individual’s ability to understand and follow treatment regimens.
• Long-term conditions: Diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disorders, and others often coexist with dementia. Due to dementia symptoms, managing these illnesses is difficult.
• Self-management: People, including those with dementia, can actively manage their health. Cognitively impaired people may struggle to follow treatment regimens, change their lifestyles, and check their health.
• Caregivers: Family members and healthcare professionals help dementia patients manage their long-term problems. They help with medication, everyday routines, and decision-making when cognitive capacities deteriorate.
• Communication: Healthcare workers, caregivers, and dementia patients must communicate well. Clear and empathic communication helps understand the individual’s issues, ensure treatment adherence, and influence decision-making.
• Partnership: Healthcare providers, caregivers, and dementia patients must collaborate for holistic treatment. It involves collaborative decision-making, mutual understanding, and coordinated efforts to optimize treatment programs, improve quality of life, and manage dementia-related long-term illnesses.

Background

Controlling dementia is a challenging problem because it is a degenerative disease that results in cognitive impairments. When it comes to adhering to treatment regimens for various chronic conditions, those who have dementia sometimes encounter significant difficulties. A person’s ability to effectively manage their health is significantly impacted by dementia-related symptoms such as forgetfulness, reduced understanding, and poor communication skills (Cooper et al., 2018, Pg 69). Co-existing chronic conditions may be more challenging to manage if these barriers make it harder to identify and convey symptoms, adhere to treatment plans, or remember medication schedules.

The growing prevalence of dementia makes managing chronic conditions more challenging. Cognitive impairment may worsen as the disease advances, making it more difficult for dementia patients to take care of themselves and manage their care. Once-manageable chores become more challenging, necessitating outside help to manage daily activities—especially those involving healthcare (Buja et al., 2021). Caregivers play a crucial role in assisting individuals with