Stručni rad
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND THE FAMILY
Daša Poredoš
Sažetak
In this paper the basic features of the social and medical problem of Alzheimer's disease will be presented, well as the consequential difficulties in family functioning. Alzheimer's disease is an illness of the cerebral cortex cells and surrounding structures. It is characterised by rapid progressiveness, irreversibility and nerve-cell damage. Alzheimer's is a long and serious disease, at present incurable, exhausting for the patients and their families. It is manifested as forgetfulness, disorientation in time and space, and an inability to live autonomously which leads to complete dependance on constant care by another person, and finally to social isolation of the patients and their families, since the behaviour of the patient becomes unacceptable for society. This results in a redistribution of roles in the family, as well as in emotional and financial exhaustion. The existing homes for the elderly and social-health institutions, due to complications of symptoms and disorders in behaviour, avoid taking these patients into care, many foster families from the social welfare system are not qualified to look after them, while family solidarity and keeping the patient within the family ultimately becomes insufficient. Family members need to be included in adequate psychosocial therapeutical treatment with the goal of enforcement and support, in addition to receiving training and information on the characteristics, course and prospects of this disease. In Croatia there are currently only a few wards within psychiatric hospitals that take such patients into care, thus leaving family members mostly on their own. In the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital «Dr. I.Barbot» in Popovača the realisation of a project for complete care of Alzheimer's disease patients has begun as well as the establishment of a corresponding advisory support centre for members of their families.
Ključne riječi
Alzheimer's disease; family; psychosocial aid and support
Hrčak ID:
3515
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.12.2003.
Posjeta: 13.835 *