James Russell: An Adult with Down Syndrome

Price (includes one year of access and CE):  US$10 Course Code: 7SENNF-PRV-09-ddn13s02 CE: 1.50 Hours. Post Test Score Required for Successful Completion: 80%

Course Overview:

People with Down syndrome live longer today than in the past because of improved quality of life, better environmental settings, and medical advances. This fact, coupled with the fact that Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher rate in people with Down syndrome, increases the likelihood that they and their families will be confronted with this diagnosis. This scenario is about a middle-aged man with Down syndrome who lives at home and works in a hospital. As co-workers, health workers, and the man's aging parents become aware of his behavior changes at work and at home, a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is considered. Nurses support the family and other caregivers as the man undergoes a thorough health assessment that includes a differential diagnosis for Alzheimer's. Nursing interventions that promote the success of medical/behavioral treatment plans and that support the family as it considers options for long-term care are described.

Course Objectives:

After completion of this learning activity, the learner will be able to:

• describe risk factors and prevalence rates of dementia in persons with Down syndrome.
• describe the clinical presentation of dementia (Alzheimer's disease) for a person with Down syndrome.
• describe the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for dementia and how its assessment may differ in a person with a developmental disability versus in a person without a developmental disability.
• describe the impact of the aging process and common health issues for persons with Down syndrome that may mask or mimic dementia.
• describe the impact of the aging process and common health issues for persons with Down syndrome that may mask or mimic dementia.
• describe the nurse's role as advocate, facilitator, and educator in the management and care of persons with dementia and developmental disabilities.

This courseware was made possible in part by grant number R43 NR04738-03 from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Copyright© 2007 by HealthSoft, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

HealthSoft, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New York State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

It has been assigned code 7SENNF-PRV-09.

This course is updated annually. Expiration date: 5/1/11

The faculty and planners of this course have no vested interests to disclose.

This course has received no commercial support.