Alzheimer's Disease: The Patient and the Family

This paper discusses the devastating physical and emotional effects that Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (Alzheimer's disease) has on the patient and their family. It explores the current ways people affected by this illness are treated by the medical community, and how necessary information is not readily disseminated by the doctors, who are the initial contacts. It examines the coping skills and support systems used by family caregivers, and looks at what is involved in obtaining care from facilities outside of the home. Finally, suggestions are proposed to make improvements to the current systems.

This subject is important because a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease affects those involved on several levels; physical, emotional/psychological, social, spiritual, and financial. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease has increased due to the fact that people are living longer. Medical technology has extended the human life span, and with that comes a responsibility to the patients and their families, to provide a supportive environment to those afflicted with this disease. The majority of medical personnel have not yet been trained in developing empathetic communication, listening and dissemination of information skills, necessary to assist the patients and their families in dealing with this devastating disease (Bellaver, 1999). Improving quality of life for all involved is imperative. By having an understanding of the shortcomings of the current syste

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ed by local resources, physicians, and health care centers. Lastly, medical libraries and professional journals were accessed. According to a 1996 survey conducted by Yankelovich Partners in association with the Alzheimer's Association (http://www.bhoffcomp.com/coping/index.htm), it was found that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease has an economic impact on the family. Five hundred interviews were conducted with people who had previously contacted the Alzheimer's Association, a national voluntary organization which provides information and support to people with Alzheimer's disease, their families and caregivers. The Alzheimer's Association is the leading funding source for research after the Federal Government and 88% of people afflicted with this disease contact them (http://www.alz.com). There was a consensus that this kind of responsibility was physically, emotionally and financially draining and can take up to 100 hours each week. The results show that 49% of the caregivers made financial sacrifices in order to provide better care for their family member, and 59% contributed savings or personal income to help pay for their care. There was an average of 17 missed work days in the last year, and one

Category: Medical - A