| Alzheimers disease is a progressive disease in which | | | | skills, the task of caregiving is even more difficult. |
| the condition worsens over time. As more parts of | | | | Along the way, as the caregiver encounter more and |
| the brain are being damaged, the symptoms of | | | | more unexpected new challenges, the caregiver will |
| Alzheimers disease become more severe. Patients | | | | definitely feel overwhelmed by these problems. The |
| experience frustration and grief as they struggle with | | | | stress experienced by the caregiver would certainly |
| gradual loss of function and fading memory. Their | | | | be greater and could result in a detrimental effect on |
| family members grieve as well, as they observe their | | | | the caregivers well-being, which in turn could result in |
| loved ones losing their abilities, personality and | | | | an adverse impact on the patients situation. |
| function. Anger, confusion, sadness and depression | | | | It is also important to note that every patient |
| are common reactions in families experiencing | | | | deserves the highest standard of care possible and |
| anticipatory grief. Being an | | | | an equipped caregiver is more able to provide the |
| Alzheimers caregiver takes energy and courage. As | | | | high standard of care required for the patient. At |
| the patients mental abilities decreases, the caregivers | | | | times, although an elderly person with severe |
| responsibility increases. Thus, the caring for a patient | | | | impairment in memory and mental function may need |
| with Alzheimers disease could become increasingly | | | | to be communicated with at the primary functioning |
| difficult and stressful over time. Many Alzheimers | | | | level of a small child, but he or she also needs, and |
| disease caregivers experience intense stress as they | | | | has a right to be respected as an adult. |
| struggle to understand the patients behavioural | | | | A trained caregiver would learn the communication |
| changes and determine what interventions will work | | | | skills required to interact with the patient and be |
| for the problems that arise each day. This stressful | | | | more equipped to provide proper care for the |
| task can have a detrimental effect on the caregivers | | | | patient. Hence, training is necessary for the caregiver |
| emotional, social and physical well-being. | | | | to acquire the appropriate skills needed for the job |
| One possible way that the caregiver could reduce | | | | and enable the caregiver to provide the standard of |
| the stress of caregiving and cope with the task more | | | | care required. The patient will benefit from the quality |
| effectively is to develop skills in caregiving. As | | | | of care provided. |
| Alzheimers disease progresses and the behavior of | | | | Thus, the importance of developing skills in caregiving |
| the patient become more complex, caregivers need | | | | should not be overlooked. It would certainly help the |
| to understand the patients changing behaviors and | | | | caregiver to cope with the task and reduce the |
| learn techniques to manage the behavioural difficulties. | | | | stress of caregiving. At the same time, the caregiver |
| Thus, it is particularly important that the caregiver | | | | will be able to provide the standard of care required |
| acquire knowledge about the Alzheimers disease and | | | | and the patient will benefit from it. Furthermore, if |
| its progression, skills and strategies for managing the | | | | caregivers find that their approaches are effective, |
| challenges, and information on the available resources | | | | they will gain confidence and increased satisfaction |
| to turn to when the need arises. This is even more | | | | doing the task. In this way, hopefully, caregivers |
| essential if the caregiver is new to the task. If a new | | | | would end up finding meaning and purpose in the |
| caregiver has totally no knowledge of | | | | difficult task of caregiving instead of finding the task |
| Alzheimers disease and is greatly lacking in coping | | | | a daunting one. |