With the extension of human life, there has been an increase in the elderly population all over the world. Turkey's population is also aging rapidly. According to the data published by the Turkish Statistical Institute in 2022, the population over the age of 65 was 8 million 451 thousand 669 people. The ratio of the elderly population in the total population was 9.9%, and it is estimated that this ratio will reach 16.3% in 2040. As the elderly population increases, the frequency of diseases seen in old age also increases. Alzheimer's Disease is one of the diseases seen in old age, its clinical symptoms begin after the age of 65 and its frequency doubles every 5 years. While the detection rate is 6-10% in people over the age of 65, it increases to 30-50% in people over the age of 85. In a study conducted in our country, it was stated that the prevalence of Dementia and Alzheimer's in Turkey is similar to that in the Western world. It is estimated that there are 650,000 Alzheimer's patients in our country.
The most distinctive feature of Alzheimer's disease is memory impairment. Situations such as asking the same question over and over again, telling the same event over and over again, not being able to remember names, losing personal belongings by putting them in the wrong places, not being able to find words, not being able to determine direction, getting lost on the road, and not being able to find a place to go are often encountered. As the disease progresses, he becomes unable to find his way home. He also has difficulty recognizing people. He cannot remember who the people he knows are. Psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease occur in the form of affective disorders, delusions, hallucinations, personality changes and behavioral disorders. Paranoid type delusions that money and belongings have been stolen are the most common all over the world. Delusions of being deceived, seeing evil, delusions that the house is not one's own, that the relatives around them are not real, and that others have replaced them are other common delusions.
There are drug treatments that can delay the progression of the disease and symptoms related to the disease and provide symptomatic benefits, and they are widely used. On the other hand, non-drug behavioral-occupational treatments have an important place in the treatment of patients with dementia. The common purpose of both types of treatment is to maintain and improve daily living activities, that is, the ability to do work that is in the process or at risk of deterioration due to Dementia, to improve health and quality of life, to reduce the burden of the caregiver and to make the life of the patient with Dementia comfortable and safe. Non-drug intervention should be used as first-line treatment, especially in the treatment of aggressive and agitated behavior.
In addition to being obliged to provide quality education and raise well-equipped individuals for the society, universities also realize their mission of being a pioneer by cooperating with relevant institutions by preparing projects to solve the problems existing in the society. Our university broke new ground in Turkey and signed the cooperation protocol numbered 2016/07-28 with the Turkish Alzheimer's Association Konya Branch, Karatay Municipality and Konya Provincial Health Directorate on 07/04/2016. Our center was opened on 10/10/2016, and this cooperation protocol came into force with the approval of the district governor's office on 2/11/2016. As of January 2017, as Necmettin Erbakan University Elderly and Disabled Education Care Application Research Center, its project was designed for the elderly and especially Alzheimer's patients, in line with the recommendations of the Alzheimer Association Konya Branch, built by Karatay Municipality, and furnished by philanthropists, especially Konya philanthropist Mehmet Ali Atiker. In a 3083.00 m2 building on a 00 m2 real estate, Karatay District, Fevzi Çakmak District, Cevher Dudayev Street, 1040 st. It started to serve at No:4.
Currently, 100 Alzheimer's patients and their relatives receive service from our center. Patients are brought to our center every day by the service allocated by Karatay Municipality.
TIME FLOW CHART ACCORDING TO THE ALZHEIMER DAY LIFE HOUSE GOALS IN OUR CENTER
09.00-09.30 Receiving the patients from their families with a time record and signature
09.30-09.50 Exercise and Sports Activities
GOAL: To increase joint mobility
Increasing muscle strength and endurance.
Correcting body posture
Increasing the energy required to perform daily tasks
Improving balance and reducing the risk of falling
Facilitate integration with other patients
APPLICATION: Considering that our patients generally have moderate Alzheimer's, they are seated in a chair. Rest is provided by giving a 2-3 minute conversation break between head, neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, waist, knee and foot movements.
09.50-10.00 Sweat control is done.
10.00-10.30 Turkish coffee and chocolate served at the table
GOAL: To gain vigor so that they can participate more actively in daily activities, minimize daily sleepiness.