ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVERS

It's not just the person that has Alzheimers that has all the health problems. Caregivers are under greater and greater stress in trying to take care of loved ones that need greater and greater care. Current estimates indicate that 4 million people have Alzheimers and 3 million of these are cared for at home. The Daily review article noted that "the hardship for caregivers is well documented in medical literature. "Alzheimers has two victims" said Doug McConnell, resource adviser for the San Francisco Bay Association of the Alzheimers Association. "The Alzheimer's patient can't change the course of his disease, but the caregivers must learn to take care of themselves". Several studies document that poorer health of caregivers. Caregivers had poorer immune systems and reported more days of infectious illness, consisting of upper respiratory tract infections. At the end of a 13 month study, 32% of the caregivers suffered from depression compared to only 6% of a control noncaregiver group. One professor noted that the stresses are a result of the demands of daily care, such as supervising a patient, restraining him or her from harmful actions, performing bodily maintenance tasks such as bathing, eating, dressing, continence, etc. and instrumental tasks such as paying bills. Secondary stress may result from family conflicts, economic hardships, restriction on social ties and leisure activities- feeling locked in an unwanted role. "Placement in a facility can be more than ridding yourself of a burdensome relative. It should often be looked upon as a rational, reasonable decision and it shouldn't represent failure or produce guilt". That said, it only reinforces the use of a good long term care policy.