老年失智症者的醫療與照護

Treatment and Nursing Care of Elderly Patients with Dementia

失智症（dementia）是老年人最常見的慢行疾病之一，除了增加醫療成本外，更為家屬和照顧者帶來沉重的身心負擔。疾病晚期因病患長期臥床，引發各種感染性併發症，提高死亡風險。因此，老年人失智症的預防疾病發後的照護是台灣高齡化社會所面臨的重要公共衛生議題。失智症不只是單一疾病，而是一組症候群，症狀不單只有記憶力的減退，更會出現各種認知功能的障礙，嚴重影響患者的社交生活、工作能力與生活品質。早期發現可利用藥物和運動等方法延緩認知功能的退化，因此當遇上懷疑罹患失智症的老年人，應儘快接受篩檢評估。本文旨在探討老年失智症的相關議題，以提供護理人員預防失智症和照護老年失智症患者之參考。

Dementia is one of the most common chronic diseases in the geriatric population. In addition to increased healthcare cost, it causes heavy physical and emotional burdens to their family members and caregivers. The risk of mortality increases as a result of various infectious complications secondary to long-term bed rest during the end-stage of disease. Therefore, prevention of senile dementia and caring for the elderly with dementia are important public health issues in the aging population of Taiwan. Dementia is not a single disease but rather a cluster of symptoms. In addition to memory loss, cognitive impairments seriously hinder the patient’s social life, working ability, and quality of life. In early detected dementia, cognitive and functional capabilities can be prolonged and decline can be slowed down with medications and exercise. Therefore, the elderly with suspected dementia should receive screening as soon as possible. This article probes senile dementia-associated issues to provide information for nurses who care for the elderly with dementia.