The progression in medical science and technology permitted today’s generation to enjoy advance medical health care and live longer lives. However, there are difficult struggles that came with getting older, in addition to the challenges that are faced by the families who have to take care of elderly family members. For instance, the majority of the ageing people would have to contend with the different medical conditions that develop as they age.
One of the common illnesses that occur with ageing is the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. The challenges that families may face in caring for an elderly with AD often comes to keeping up with the changing personality of the patient. The elderly may exhibit a sudden change in attitude and behaviour that leads the family members confused at what may have caused the change. Alzheimer patients suffer from symptoms such as difficulty in doing simple tasks, incontinence, poor personal hygiene and poor judgment among others (National). Despite the advancement in science and medical technology, there is no known cure for this disease.
Caring for a family member with an AD can be a daunting task and it helps that there are resources available to caregivers such as the state programs that assist families of people with AD (Alzheimer’s). Care for patients at home may be aided by the local Area Agency on Aging about home care programs. Community support groups can also provide counselling on how best to overcome the challenges of dealing with the disease. There are also good internet sources that offer current and practical advice such as the Alzheimer’s Association Publications that provide consumer and professional materials for AD caregivers. For human service providers, they can gain competence in caring for people with AD by undergoing medical educational programs to gain knowledge about the disease. Educational programs for caregivers shall not only educate about the illness, but also provide information on how to interact with the families and in what way one can enrich the patient’s life by understanding their behaviour.
References
U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Help with Alzheimer’s. Retrieved from www.alzheimer.gov
National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. Retrieved from www.nia.nih.gov.
