Paper Summary:

This paper discusses alternative therapies for Alzheimer's disease patients and analyzes if these treatments work better on their own or in conjunction with the more traditional therapies that are more generally used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Music, hand massages and a combination of both are looked at as therapies to treat the pain and mental confusion that Alzheimer disease patients often have. The paper also reviews literature and examines the different methods that are used in order to determine whether an elder that is suffering from Alzheimer's disease is in pain and if treatment for that pain is necessary.

From the Paper:

" Likewise, the effectiveness of the treatment must also be considered, because no treatment, regardless of how safe it actually is, will be worthwhile if it does not work for the patient. This is part of the reason that there are different medications available that all treat the same thing, since not all patients respond in the same way to the same medication. The same is true of alternative therapies for Alzheimer's disease and the way that people with Alzheimer's are treated for pain and other issues that elderly people often develop in conjunction with the disease. Both safety and effectiveness have to be very strongly considered to find the right treatment for the patient in question, instead of treating everyone with Alzheimer's disease in the same way."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alzheimer's Foundation of America. (2008). http://www.alzfdn.org
• Bally, K., Campbell, D., Chesnick, K., & Tranmer, J.E. (2003). Effects of patient-controlled music therapy during coronary angiography. Critical Care Nurse, 23(2): 50-58.
• Dash, Paul, & Villemarette-Pittman, Nicole. (2005). Alzheimer's disease.
• Johnson, J. E. (2003). The use of music to promote sleep in older women. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 20(1): 27-35.
• Mace, Nancy L. & Rabins, Peter V. (2006). The 36 hour day, 4th edition.

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