Nursing Management of Dementia: Family Adjustments & Driving Issues

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Video Runtime: 52 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 17 Minutes

Dementia of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults causes many changes—physically, psychologically, and emotionally. These changes cause personality to be altered and memory issues that affect a person’s ability to function independently, including the individual’s ability to drive. It also causes role changes within the family. Nurses caring for older adults with dementia must deal with the families and their adjustment to the patients’ behaviors, which they will encounter. This course will discuss the emotional issues occurring when a family member receives a diagnosis of dementia, physical changes affecting a person’s independence and driving safety, as well as role changes, family conflict, and strategies to manage family conflict.

Meet your instructor

Lisa Byrd

Lisa Byrd, PhD, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, Gerontologist, is an expert in caring for older adults and a seasoned Certified Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. She treats numerous patients in nursing homes, an outpatient clinic, and hospital inpatient settings.

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Cognitive Changes which Affect Driving Abilities

Normal aging changes and changes affecting awareness and behavior in older adults with dementia can be dangerous to the individual and those within the community. This chapter will review the physical and psychological changes that negatively affect the older adult’s ability to drive.

2. Identifying the Driving Issues

The dangers associated with driving for older adults with dementia will be identified. A checklist will be presented for use in assessment of driving capacity.

3. Strategies to Manage as Well as ‘Taking the Keys’

Strategies to divert the operation of a motor vehicle by an individual who has a diagnosis of dementia will be reviewed. This chapter will offer strategies to allow the caregiver to recognize the problem and present strategies to manage the issues.

4. Role Changes when a Family Member has Dementia

Families and caregivers of the individuals with dementia often experience a change in their role in the family. These changes can lead to conflict. This chapter reviews the common changes in the family, potential conflicts which can occurs due to dementia, and why these are occurring.

5. Family Conflict due to Changing Roles and Challenging Behaviors

The role changes and the problematic behaviors presented in older adults with dementia can be stressful and lead to caregiver stress and burnout. This chapter reviews how to assess these issues.

6. Strategies to Manage Family Crisis

Conflict, caregiver stress, and burnout can lead to depression, anxiety, and decline in the health of the caregiver. This chapter will offer strategies to allow the caregiver to recognize the problem and manage the issues.

More courses in this series

Nursing Management of Dementia: Overview

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Nursing Management of Dementia: Alzheimer's Disease Prevention

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