Professional paper

Alzheimer’s Disease – Influence on Female Caregivers’ Living and Mental Health

Suzana Uzun ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia, Josip Juraj StrossmayerUniversity of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Osijek
Ninoslav Mimica ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Oliver Kozumplik ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia, Josip Juraj StrossmayerUniversity of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Osijek
Marija Kušan Jukić ; Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia,
Ivana Todorić Laidlaw ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Dubravka Kalinić ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Nela Pivac ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Trpimir Glavina ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Split, Split, Croatia, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
Ivan Požgain ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Osijek, Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Dementia is a public health problem that will become more obvious as the population grows older. There are 50 million people with dementia in the world, and it is estimated that the number of people with dementia will rise to 65.7 million by 2030, and 115.4 million by 2050. At present, we are trying to diagnose dementia as early as possible, and it is important to offer patients and their families a continuous and high-quality program of treatment and care. In this article, we wanted to show the main problems connected with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the modern world which influence the lives of female caregivers. The influence on women who take care of people with dementia as professional caregivers, as well as women who take the role of an informal caregiver of a person with dementia has been described. Early recognition of emotional stress in caregivers is necessary for successful preventive actions (counselling, supportive
psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural treatment) and for preventing the development or worsening of already existing somatic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular), as well as mental disorders, among which, apart from insomnia, anxiety and depression are the most common forms.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease; Dementia; Caregivers; Mental disorders; Women

Hrčak ID:

218768

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/218768

Publication date:

5.4.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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