Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging for those responsible for providing care for the nation’s aging population. It is the most prevalent kind of dementia in older people, impairing memory, decision-making, and everyday functioning (Wierzbicka, 2019). In these situations, nurses can step in and help patients and their family members develop independence and self-care.
Application of Orem’s Theory
Theory Description
The Orem model theory is employed in rehabilitation and primary care settings. It focuses on helping patients become as self-sufficient as possible in caring for themselves. The theory considers personality, environment, health, and nursing as four essential elements of nursing practice (Fernandes et al., 2019).
Encompassing Elements
In these circumstances, a person is taken care of and has the capacity to learn and grow. The environmental dimension encompasses elements, circumstances, and advancements that may have a favorable or unfavorable impact on a person’s ability to meet their needs (Im, 2018). According to the theory, health is a condition in which the body’s structure and functioning are intact (Campos, 2022). Within this theory, nursing is ultimately used to promote independence and is required when an individual’s self-care demands exceed their capacity.
Explanation of the Disease
Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s disease, memory and critical thinking abilities decline with time, making it impossible for the patient to do everyday tasks on their own. Orem’s theory outlines the circumstances under which nursing is necessary and how it can benefit patients. The patient’s ability to meet self-care obligations should be compared to her self-care deficit to assess the patient’s individual needs (Fernandes et al., 2019).
Strengths and Limitations
Given that this is a complex subject for senior citizens, the theory’s strength lies in offering essential support when required. However, since this is the theory’s primary flaw, the idea of independence should be used with caution in actual applications.
Application of Henderson’s Theory
Description
Needs theory is another well-known contribution to the nursing theoretical corpus. Henderson’s needs theory emphasizes the importance of enhancing patient independence and focusing on fundamental human needs to prevent delays in recovery from hospitalization (Maxwell & Radford, 2021). Virginia Henderson’s needs theory posits the crucial premise that nurses care for patients until they can take care of themselves again. Henderson also holds that the mind and body are interdependent (Younas & Quennell, 2019). The notion that highlights the patient’s demand for autonomy and self-care is comparable to the approach used in the Orem framework for Alzheimer’s disease.
Strengths and Limitations
The theory’s main benefit, which can be helpful in certain circumstances, is its emphasis on the interdependence of mind and health. Although this approach is primarily recognized for treating Alzheimer’s and dementia, it has several limitations (Wierzbicka, 2019). Several tasks described in Henderson’s principles can only be applied to people who are fully functioning; this indicates that some patients will always require assistance, which contradicts the theory. The links between the ideas and sub-concepts of the Henderson Principles are also not well defined because there is no conceptual framework.
Conclusion
On average, patients with less confusion or memory loss may find these approaches more consoling and encouraging. While helping their patients, healthcare practitioners may also encourage personal growth by applying the theories discussed. Promoting independence and self-care is vital to developing the theoretical framework of nursing. Despite certain limitations, these theories can be applied in conjunction with other treatments to deliver the best possible care.
References
Campos, C. P. A. (2022). Nursing care for patients with Kounis syndrome. Enfermería Clínica, 32(3), 203-209. Web.
Fernandes, S., Silva, A., Barbas, L., Ferreira, R., Fonseca, C., & Fernandes, M. A. (2019). Theoretical contributions from Orem to self-care in rehabilitation nursing. In International Workshop on Gerontechnology (pp. 163-173). Springer, Cham. Web.
Im, E. O. (2018). Theory development strategies for middle-range theories. Advances in Nursing Science, 41(3), 275–292. Web.
Maxwell, E., & Radford, M. (2021). Long Covid and the ghost of nursing theory. Journal of Research in Nursing, 26(5), 362–366. Web.
Wierzbicka, I. B. (2019). Nursing-history and development of the profession. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 9(9), 121-129. Web.
Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). The usefulness of nursing theory‐guided practice: an integrative review. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 33(3), 540-555. Web.