Health And Well-Being Support for Dementia by Alzheimer's Society Case Study

Introduction: Holistic Care Strategies for Dementia at Alzheimer's Society UK

In today's world, the population is aging rapidly and the number of people with dementia is also growing at an alarming rate. In the UK, dementia is now becoming a significant health concern as of January 31, 2022, more than 440,000 individuals aged of 65 and above had been diagnosed with dementia. According to the report by the Office for National Statistics or ONS, in the UK, one of the leading causes of death is Alzheimer's and Dementia in 2022 (11.4% of total deaths) (GOV.UK. 2022). Despite this striking fact, there is no such treatment being evolved to cure dementia. Therefore, supporting and providing help to the people living with the disorder is the only way to provide hope for the future. This essay aims to highlight the concept of health and well-being and evaluate the importance of holistic assessment of health to promote the health and well-being of people living with Dementia. In this essay, focus will be given on the notion “At Alzheimer's Society we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today and providing hope for the future” – which is the primary principle of health promotion delivered by the Alzheimer's Society of UK (Alzheimer's Society 2021).

Description of the Organisation

For this proposed essay, the Alzheimer's Society of the United Kingdom has been taken into consideration. The organisation mainly provides help, support, and hope to individuals who are living with dementia. The range of the services being offered by this organisation includes dedicated support as Alzheimer's Society is the only dementia charity that offers specialised support and healthcare services to individuals dealing with dementia; a Campaign to make people aware of Dementia (Kafaji, 2020). The mission of Alzheimer's Society is to “ensure that life does not end when dementia begins”. The targeted population of this organistaion for health and well-being support are those individuals who have been affected by dementia, recently, along with the individuals who are living with dementia and need grant support with care and hospitalisation (Naidoo and Wills, 2016). The Alzheimer's Society invests its funds in research to reduce the impact of crisis moments for those who are affected by dementia and highlight the notion of “Hope of A Better Future” (Alzheimer's Society 2021).

Task 1: The Concept of Health and well-being in the older population and make recommendations on how “Alzheimer's Society” promotes the health and well-being of its service users

Brief Analysis of the concept of health and well-being

According to the World Health Organisation or WHO, “health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmities” (www.who.int. 2022). The term “health” refers to physical health, mental health, and social health. physical health refers to the absence of any diseases or physical ailments and includes the practice of maintaining a healthy body through exercise, nutrition, and proper medical care. On the other hand, mental health refers to emotional well-being, coping strategies with stress, and maintaining a positive mindset. Social health refers to the relationships, social connections, and sense of belonging of individuals (NHS Digital 2022). The term “well-being” refers to the optimal state of health of an individual. So, well-being refers to a positive state of mind and health rather than a neutral one. therefore, health and well-being are interwind and two essential components to the survival and existence of people.

The Models of Health

There are two models that are used widely to conceptualize health and well-being. Those are the biomedical model and the Biopsychosocial model. According to the biomedical model, the health of an individual can be determined by the biological factors. As per this model, diseases and infirmities are caused due to biological malfunction genetic abnormalities, or due to infections caused by pathogens (Van Nguyen et al., 2020). Treatment under this model focuses on the diagnosis and prevention of the primary cause of the illness, through medication, medical intervention, and surgery. According to this model, health is viewed as the absence of any disease or infirmities and this model states that being healthy refers to an individual living with no symptoms or physical ailments.

The Biopsychosocial model states that health is influenced by multiple factors which include the psychological, social, and biological elements. As per this model, physical health, genetic, and metabolism functions are referred to as biological health, whereas mental, emotional, behavioral, and cognition refer to psychological health, and social interaction, cultural context, and environmental factors can be included in social health concepts (Smith, 2021). By integrating these dimensions, the Biopsychosocial model refers to health as not just the presence or absence of physical health, but it also refers to the psychological and social well-being of individuals (Frazier, 2020).

Application of the concepts by the organisations to promote health and well-being for the service users

The Alzheimer's Society of the UK uses a diverse range of concepts to promote the health and well-being of individuals with dementia.

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One of the concepts to promote health and well-being is through person-centered care, which includes the principle of providing care and assistance to individuals with dementia while taking their specific needs, preferences and abilities into account (nidirect. 2017). This principle can allow the organisation to offer a personalised care approach to the service users which can improve their sense of autonomy, and dignity help them to develop a sense of belonging, and encourage them to take part in decision-making regarding their care and treatment.

Education is another important concept used by organisations to promote the health and well-being of service users. The concept relies on empowering the service users and their caregivers through accurate and accumulated information and educating them about Dementia (Wills, 2022). This is the key aspect of service approaches being delivered by Alzheimer's Society. By offering resources, education, and workshops, the organisations help the individual to understand the condition related to dementia, teach them the process of managing the symptoms, and plan for integrated care support so that every individual can access the support service as per their needs (Scriven, 2017).

Advocacy and awareness are another important concepts used by the organisation to promote the health and well-being of people with dementia. Alzheimer's Society uses the holistic approach to promote health and well-being, which not only involves the process of addressing the cognitive symptoms associated with the disorders, but also the physical, and social aspects of health and well-being (Alzheimer's research UK 2023). The awareness program and advocacy of the organsiation include cognitive stimulation activities, social outings, and physical exercise sessions so that awareness can be raised about dementia-related issues by reducing the stigma and strengthening the policy and practices.

Task 2: Importance of Holistic assessment in health and social care, the Principles of ‘Alzheimer's Society' to maintain this approach

Impact of the concepts on the effectiveness of the principles to maintain the holistic approach

The Alzheimer's Society in the UK offers a strong commitment to the holistic approach to support individuals living with Dementia. This organisation tries to align the organisational principle to be aligned with key concepts of health promotion. The principle of Alzheimer's Society is, to promote EDI or Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, this organisation believes that every individual must have the right to contribute to society, regardless of his disabilities, or mental health conditions, and age (NHS Digital 2022). The organistaion tries to celebrate diversity and value inclusion by fostering an integrated care environment, which encourages diverse preferences, perceptions, and voices of service users.

The organisation is committed to the provision of a holistic approach, that acknowledges that dementia can affect an individual's health and well-being in multifaceted ways, by addressing not only the cognitive symptoms, but also the emotional, physical, and social aspects of well-being, The Alzheimer's Society ensures that it is the basic rights of the individuals to receive comprehensive support for managing the sign and symptoms of dementia (www.who.int. 2022). This approach aligns the organizational principles with the key concept of health promotion by recognising the interconnectedness of health determinants and a holistic understanding of health and wellbeing. According to Safavi et al., (2023), the principle approach of health promotion for dementia involves the empowerment of individuals with resources, information, and support that can enhance their physical, emotional, cognitive, as well as social well-being. It mainly includes early detection, reduction of risks, and lifestyle intervention to optimise the health of brain function and reduce the impact of symptoms associated with dementia on the overall health of the patient. Wills, (2022) has mentioned that health promotion for dementia also includes the rise of awareness, bringing of positive changes in society, reduction of stigma, and creating a supportive environment that can enable individuals with dementia to live life with respect, and dignity.

Social determinants of health and its impact on the success of the organisation in promoting health and Well-being

Social determinants of health that can impact on the success of the Alzheimer's Society of the UK in promoting the health and well-being of individuals affected by dementia are:

• Socio-economic status: it includes access to healthcare services, the economic status of the service seekers, housing, and social status. More specifically, it can be stated that individuals with limited economic resources can restrict to access appropriate healthcare services and support, necessary for their health and wellness (Naidoo and Wills, 2016).
• Social Supports and Network: strong social support and network can influence the health and well-being of any individual as it can ease the accessibility of emotional support, assistance, and opportunities to engage with society (NHS digital 2022).
• Stigma and Discrimination: the stigma of being isolated from society among patients with dementia can lead them to social isolation, reduce the scope of accessing healthcare services, and have a negative impact on self-worth (Frazier, 2020). On the other hand, discrimination in society based on disabilities, and age can restrict people from accessing necessary healthcare support and services to treat dementia.

Concept of a holistic assessment of health in health and social care and its importance to how the principles of the organisations enhance the effectiveness of health promotion for its service users

The holistic assessment in health and social care goes beyond the mere examination of physical health. it includes the comprehensive evaluation of the well-being of individuals based on diverse dimensions. Those dimensions are, Physiological, where it is important to conduct thorough physical assessment to understand the health needs of individuals; psychological dimension, where it is important to identify the potential stressors that can impact the well-being of individuals, and sociological dimension, which explores the family networks and available supports (www.who.int. 2022). Other dimensions of holistic assessment in health and social care are the developmental dimension which includes both psychosocial and cognitive development, and the cultural dimension, which refers that it should be importance of meeting the dietary and healthcare needs and values based on the cultural preferences of the service users (Kafaji, 2020). The importance of holistic assessment can be related to the provision which provides a comprehensive understanding of the health and well-being of individuals by considering the physical, psychological, and social aspects (Alzheimer's research UK 2023). Additionally, with holistic assessment, organsiations like Alzheimer's Society can carry out early detection of the onset of dementia among individuals with an age of 65 years or above allowing timely intervention. It also enables to tailor customised care to meet the unique needs of patients, which in turn can improve the health outcomes as well as wellness of individuals. Moreover, the holistic assessment of healthcare can strengthen the social inclusion principles which promote the development of an integrated environment that fosters social connection, reduction of social isolation and stigma, and promotes a sense of autonomy and dignity among sufferers (Scriven, 2017). By integrating these principles into practice, Alzheimer's Society can ensure that the organisation is capable enough to deliver integrated, person-centric, and comprehensive care and support to better the future of individuals living with dementia.

Conclusion

In this essay, focus has been given to the importance of health and well-being for individuals living with Dementia. The purpose of this essay was to highlight the concept of health and well-being by addressing the key concepts and principles associated with health promotion for individuals with the respective disorders. Therefore, to conclude this essay, it can be stated that the Alzheimer's Society in the UK plays an important role in addressing health needs and providing strong support for wellness to individuals who are living with Dementia. By aligning with the key principles of health models, and health promotion, the organisation provides integrated, comprehensive, and person-centric care along with education and advocacy, so that people with the respective disorder can live their life with dignity and a sense of belonging. In this essay, focus ahs have been given to the importance of holistic assessment in health and social care, which can enable the organisation to early detect, and prevention of the onset of diseases, and provision of personalised care planning to ensure overall health and wellbeing.

References

• Alzheimer's research UK (2023). Dementia Statistics Hub | Alzheimer's Research UK. [online] Dementia Statistics Hub. Available at: https://dementiastatistics.org/.
• Alzheimer's Society (2021). Alzheimer's Society - United against dementia | Alzheimer's Society. [online] Alzheimers.org.uk. Available at: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.
• Frazier, L.D., (2020). The past, present, and future of the biopsychosocial model: A review of The Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Disease: New philosophical and scientific developments by Derek Bolton and Grant Gillett. New Ideas in Psychology, 57, p.100755.
• GOV.UK. (2022). Recorded Dementia Diagnoses, January 2022. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/recorded-dementia-diagnoses-january-2022.
• Kafaji, T., (2020). The Psychology Behind Wellness and Illness Why Do People Get Sick? Singapor, Partridge Publishing
• Naidoo, J. and Wills, J., (2016). Health Promotion Foundations for Practice 4th ed. Bailliere Tindall, London. (available on Kortext).
• NHS digital (2022). Recorded Dementia Diagnoses, January 2022. [online] NHS Digital. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/recorded-dementia-diagnoses/january-2022.
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• nidirect. (2017). Dementia support: helping to maintain good health and nutrition. [online] Available at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/dementia-support-helping-maintain-good-health-and-nutrition.
• Safavi, R., Wearden, A. and Berry, K. (2023). Psychological well?being in persons with dementia: The role of caregiver expressed emotion. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12416.
• Scriven, A., (2017). 7th Ed. Ewles & Simnett's Promoting health. A practical guide. London, Scurati Press. (ARU library)
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• Van Nguyen, H., Van Hoang, M., Dao, A.T.M., Nguyen, H.L., Van Nguyen, T., Nguyen, P.T., Khuong, L.Q., Le, P.M. and Gilmour, S., (2020). An adaptive model of health system organization and responses helped Vietnam to successfully halt the Covid?19 pandemic: What lessons can be learned from a resource?constrained country. The International journal of health planning and management, 35(5), pp.988-992.
• Wills, J, (2022). Foundations for Health Promotion 5th ed. Elsevier Health Sciences - Publishing. (available on Kortext).
• www.who.int. (2022). Dementia. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAt5euBhB9EiwAdkXWO0FN6ATUh924XR452qqg3tFJGPOl4cNr-T1IlTxxC9CA3aOAH4UCBhoCeb0QAvD_BwE [Accessed 9 Feb. 2024].