Page 50 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

ALZHEiMER’S DiSEASE n 17

nurses, bringing national attention to nurs- plaques and tangles. in addition, these physi-
ing care of the elderly, reaching out to hospi- ological deficits create a systemic effect on the
tal, home care, and nursing home nurses, and macrolevel function and affect an individual’s A
illustrating the need for more advance prac- ability to work or function in everyday life.
tice nurses and for basic gerontology content in nursing home residents, 61% were
in baccalaureate nursing programs to care cognitively impaired; however, only 12 had
for one of the most vulnerable populations a diagnosis in their records indicating cog-
(Berman et al., 2005; Boltz et al., 2008; Davis, nitive disturbance, and 43% were depressed
Beel-Bates, & Jensen, 2008; Maas et al., 2010; (McDougall, 1998). A study of the prevalence
Mezey et al., 2008; Rieder, 2006). of dementia among Black and White resi-
Nursing has a vital role in combating dents being admitted to nursing homes found
ageism and continues to be in a key position rates 50% higher among Blacks than Whites.
to minimize ageist attitudes in the future. in other studies, the prevalence of dementia
Nurses must be involved in future studies in Maryland nursing homes was estimated
to investigate these important and relevant between 49% and 54% (Magaziner et al., 2000;
areas of research and in dissemination of Weintraub et al., 2000). With the increase in
these findings through best practice initia- the number of assisted living facilities and
tives. in addition, nurses must be prominent continuing care retirement communities,
in other relevant arenas (intergenerational projections are following the same patterns
linkages, global attitudes on aging, and work- as nursing homes. For example in Maryland,
force) that challenge stereotypes of aging and the prevalence of dementia and other psychi-
promote appropriate views and care of older atric disorders was 68% from a random sam-
adults. Perhaps the most lasting and power- ple of 22 facilities. Differences were notable
ful way to combat ageism is through mentor- between large (63%) and small facilities (81%).
ing of practicing nurses, nurses in training, These findings support earlier findings that
and young adults by encouraging active dia- differentiate the facilities on the basis of the
logue and interaction with older adults. number of residents (Rosenblatt et al., 2004).
The number of new cases of AD, par-
Andrea M. Yevchak ticularly for minority elders, is expected to
Donna M. Fick increase threefold to 13.2 million by 2050
(Hebert, Scherr, Bienias, Bennett, & Evans,
2003). The health disparity between these
groups of older adults and mainstream groups
Alzheimer’S diSeASe is illustrated by the disproportionate preva-
lence of cognitive impairments and demen-
tia in this population. African Americans
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a psychiatric are projected to increase more than 31% and
diagnosis that affects the lives and families of Hispanics more than 86% compared with a
some 5 million individuals who are diagnosed 15% increase in Anglos. Nationwide, by 2025,
(Alzheimer’s Association, 2010). The Diagnostic 10% of the population will be older than 65
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders out- years, a trend that is reflected in the popu-
lines a detailed set of criteria for the diagnosis lations of many countries around the world.
of AD, specifically multiple cognitive deficits, How cognitive function is determined also
including memory impairment, and neurolog- plays a major role in recognition of an impair-
ical symptoms, including one of either agno- ment in minority populations (Parker &
sia, aphasia, apraxia, and impaired executive Philp, 2004; Wilder et al., 1995).
function. Microcellular damages are nota- With the increase in minority elders pro-
ble because of the formation of beta-amyloid jected, for example, Hispanic to increase 86%