Caring for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver

Posted on | November 8, 2006 | Comments Off on Caring for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver

This week’s Health Politics program discusses the progress we have made since Alzheimer’s disease was first noted by Alois Alzheimer 100 years ago. As I mentioned in the program, we’re closer to finding a cure than we were 30 years ago, but we’re still not close enough. With the aging of the population, the incidence of the disease in the United States is on a steep rise — with the number of diagnoses expected to reach 6 million by 2020.

As this week’s program reveals, Alzheimer’s effect on the brain and the subsequent behavioral and psychological changes patients experience is devastating. But the story behind this story — the one that so often gets overlooked — involves the heroic efforts of Alzheimer’s patients’ caregivers. If you are a caregiver or know one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The majority of care for Alzheimer’s patients is provided by family members, most often, but not always, women. And if they were working at regular jobs before caregiving, studies show that more than half end up reducing their regular work hours, and at least 18% resign from their regular jobs to commit themselves full time to caregiving. Caregiving is an extraordinary challenge, to say the least. Sadly, about 43% of caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients become clinically depressed.

That’s why it’s important for caregivers to know they’re not alone and they have to take care of themselves in order to be able to take care of their loved one. For many, this means finding support and comfort in support groups and caregiver networks, like the Family Caregiver Alliance. Do you know of others? I’d like to hear from you — if you’re a caregiver or are close to one, how are you managing it?