Nursing care for elderly dementia patients with behavioral and emotional problems and dependency in the community : A case study.

Abstract

      This study is a comparative case study of two elderly patients diagnosed with dementia and functional dependency under the care of Huai Phueng Hospital Community Health Center. Data were collected between 2024 and 2025 The researcher gathered data through medical records, disease pathology, assessments, interviews, observations, and home visits. The collected data were analyzed to establish nursing diagnoses, implement nursing interventions, and evaluate outcomes. This study integrated concepts of holistic nursing, community health practice, Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, and Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns to provide comprehensive care for the patients.

      Study Results: Patient 1 is an 82-year-old male. The primary caregivers are his daughter and granddaughter. He has comorbidities including hypertension. He can move by himself but gets lost on the way home, cannot remember meals, has abnormal sleep patterns, and is incontinent. Assessment of daily living activities: ADL = 7/20, IADL = 0/8. He exhibits inappropriate behavior and emotions, and his relatives do not understand his dementia. Patient 2 is a 75-year-old male. The primary caregiver is his daughter. He has underlying conditions including hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He has difficulty moving due to weakness in both legs, is indifferent and uninterested in his surroundings, is incontinent, and has sleep problems. Assessment of daily living activities: ADL = 6/20, IADL = 0/8. His relatives do not understand dementia.