As the population ages, there has been an increased need for elder care. Institutionalized care is an option, but many elders are being taken care of by a family member or loved one within the home. These caregivers take on a tremendous responsibility by assisting their loved ones with the activities of daily living (ADLs). This can include feeding, cleaning, or dressing a loved one. This type of caregiving is especially involved in situations where the loved one being cared for has Alzheimer’s disease. Although research and support for a cure for Alzheimer’s is important, the strain involved with caregiving should not be ignored.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that affects the cognitive abilities of an individual that causes a decrease in the ability to perform ADLs over time. The disease usually affects people that are over 65 years of age, but there are cases of people being diagnosed as early as the late 40s.
Because of constant care needed for caring for a person with Alzheimer’s, many caregivers leave their careers to become Alzheimer’s caregivers full time. Alzheimer’s caregiving causes stress on the caregiver in three ways: financially, physically, and emotionally. The emotional effects can go beyond depression and into grief during the caregiving process and on to bereavement after the loved one has died.
Impact of Alzheimer's Disease on Caregivers
According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2007), family caregivers provide 70% of Alzheimer's care. In addition, 45% of these caregivers have reported suffering from some type of depression. As a result, Alzheimer’s caregivers need a lot of support through interventions such as community forums and workshops. Mental health assistance should be available for Alzheimer’s caregivers in dealing with grief issues related to caring for their loved ones.
Increasing the awareness of the grief and loss feelings that caregivers experience within the caregiving process and after their loved one is gone will give them the ability to recognize the signs that their own mental health is at risk. The goal will be to give caregivers the tools to deal with the grief in the most effective way.
Alzheimer's Caregivers and Grief and Loss
The feelings of grief and loss are normal among Alzheimer’s caregivers. The loved one that once was their companion, mother, father, or grandparent is no longer recognizable. Loved ones of people with Alzheimer’s disease experience multiple losses (Gruetzner, 2001). Some common symptoms of grief that Alzheimer’s caregivers experience are denial, anger, guilt, and depression.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2007), guilt and depressive symptoms are prevalent among caregivers. However, it is important to note that depression and caregiver grief are similar in their symptoms, and sometimes can be hard to distinguish (Gruetzner, 2001). Caregivers should be provided with enough information to recognize the difference between depressive symptoms within the grieving process and actual clinical depression so that they know when to seek help for themselves.
There is an enormous involvement of the caregiver in the Alzheimer’s disease discussion. By increasing awareness, the hope is that it will lead to:
- the development of community based programs to assist caregivers with respite
- training programs to help caregivers effectively take care of the patient and themselves
- the recognition of the signs of at-risk bereaved caregivers to be able to provide proper support
- preparing the caregiver for their loved one’s death
- the initiation of more caregiver research, for not only Alzheimer’s disease, but also other diseases and conditions that affect the elderly
References:
Alzheimer’s Association (2007). "Grief and Loss".
Gruetzner, H.M. (2001). Alzheimer’s: A caregiver’s guide and sourcebook. New York: Wiley.
Michele Whitney - Over 10 years of diverse professional experience, PhD candidate in Public Service with an undergraduate degree in Marketing and an MBA.
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