It should come as no surprise that Alzheimer's disease (AD) increasingly attracts the public's attention. AD is the fourth leading cause of adult deaths; it affects one in 10 by age 65, and as many as four in 10 after age 85. It is estimated that 4 million Americans have AD, and the number is expected to rise significantly.
To neurologists and other health care professionals, managing patients is challenging and often frustrating. Despite advances in our understanding and treatment of this illness, AD remains incurable and cannot be prevented. The devastating impact of AD on its victims is no less than tragic. Robbed of memories, judgment and thinking skills, patients lose their dignity and independence.
As the disease progresses and intellectual skills fail, many patients appear mercifully content and placid. Family members, at the same time, face tremendous upheaval. In some circles, families are burdened by the embarrassment and social stigma attached to this illness.
Often unprepared for their new roles as caregivers, spouses and children must make significant adjustments. Panic best describes the initial reaction of some family members when they are told the diagnosis. In many instances, family members are able to conquer their fears by gaining knowledge about AD and devising a realistic plan for the future.
Unfortunately, many spouses and children react with denial, refusing to believe that their loved one has AD. Some channel their fears and frustrations into anger, treating their loved one with hostility rather than love and empathy.
The demands placed on caregivers can be overwhelming. Eight in 10 caregivers report high levels of stress, and a large number are known to be at risk for clinical depression. Studies have shown that caregivers visit their physicians, use prescription medications and become hospitalized more often than non-caregivers. Spending an average of more than 70 hours per week as caregivers, it is no wonder that many spouses and children have difficulty maintaining their jobs.
The economic burden of AD can also be enormous, with the lifetime average cost of treatment estimated at almost $175,000 per person.
The greatest burden facing caregivers is the day-to-day supervision of AD patients. AD patients must be allowed to function as independently as possible in order to preserve self-esteem and dignity. At the same time, the home environment must be kept as safe as possible:
