Masters Degrees (Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy) by Subject "Alzheimer's disease -- Patients -- South Africa"

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    The perceptions of nurses regarding the communication and cognition of persons with mild Alzheimer’s dementia, within the Tygerberg district of Cape Town
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Jeske, Corinna; Gerber, Berna; Bardien, Faeza; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Speech Language and Hearing Therapy.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : This South African study aimed to determine the perceptions of a group of nurses regarding the care of mild Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), with specific reference to the communication and cognitive abilities of these patients. A convenience sample, comprising of nurses, caring for persons with mild AD, was recruited, within five homes for the elderly in the Tygerberg district, within the Cape Town area, Western Cape. A qualitative research approach was used within the phenomenological tradition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 nurses. The data collected from the interviews was analysed qualitatively, using thematic analysis, with the components of inductive analysis, latent themes and constructionist epistemology. The findings of this study indicate that there are minimal funds available for the care of senior citizens, including persons with AD, in South Africa. Minimal funding for governmental homes for the elderly leads to a few nurses often being the only health care professionals employed at these homes. The findings of this study illustrate that the majority of these nurses never received formal training with regards to AD care. These nurses were aware of a range of behavioural changes persons with AD experience due to motor, perceptual, cognitive and communicative deterioration and personality changes. They discussed both, the benefits and the challenges that these behavioural changes created, as well as coping strategies helping them overcome these challenges. It became evident that whilst nurses were aiming to provide the best care to the persons with mild AD, their focus of care was mainly on the physical aspects of care. Even though the nursing staff, in these homes, is well positioned to provide intervention to persons with mild AD in terms of their communication and cognition, they seemed to have had limited to no exposure to such interventions. The findings of this study, highlight the need for the development, presentation and administration of cognitive and communicative training interventions, aimed at the specific needs of the nurses working in governmental homes in the Tygerberg district.