Jenny Stanson, a 20 year-old college student

Mental/Behavioral Case Study

HCS/245

Mental/Behavioral Case Study

My client Jenny Stanson, a 20 year-old college student living with her grandmother came to me seeking help for her grandmother who has shown symptoms of having Alzheimer’s disease.   She noticed that her grandmother seems to be confused at times, forgetful of things that she has been told, and is often short-tempered. Ms. Stanson stated to me even though these symptoms mentioned do not happen often, this is clearly not her grandmother’s normal behavior. Ms. Stanson is very concerned about the well-being of her grandmother and something has to be done to get to the bottom of the problem.
After reviewing this case, we cannot assume that Ms. Stanson’s grandmother actually has Alzheimer’s disease, even with the symptoms that may be present. A thorough medical history involving other family members and physical examination of her grandmother is needed to rule out the possibility of other illnesses or conditions. This will determine if Alzheimer’s disease is actually present and will also determine the specific stage or level of the disease.   Once the physical exam has been done, we can begin to focus on the treatment plan that will be suitable for her grandmother to get the help that she needs.
First, let’s take a look at what Alzheimer’s is and how it affects the body. Alzheimer’s, also known as AD,   is a progressive form of dementia. According to Neighbors (2015), “Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50% of all dementias and commonly occurs after age 65 but can occur as early as age 40. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is said to be unknown, but theories such as an inherited chromosomal defect or immunologic defect can be related to the cause of the disease.” Some common symptoms of the disease include mild memory loss, personality changes, and speech and language problems, in which some of the symptoms my client’s grandmother is…