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AAMFT Consumer Update
Alzheimer's Disease
 Approximately
four million persons in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain that causes progressive
deterioration of brain cells. This loss of brain cells can result in a
gradual loss of memory, confusion, difficulties with language, and
increasing difficulty with performing everyday tasks like using the
telephone or grocery shopping. People with Alzheimer's can also experience
changes in their personalities that may cause them to behave in ways that
their families may not fully understand.
The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of
ten warning signs of possible Alzheimer's disease:
-
Loss
of memory, particularly recently learned information.
-
Difficulty
performing familiar tasks (e.g. using the microwave oven or preparing
a meal.)
-
Problems
with language. Forgetting the names for household items like
toothbrush or computer.
-
Disorientation
to time and place. It is normal to forget what day of the week it is,
but getting lost in your own neighborhood or thinking that you have
traveled back in time are the types of disorientation one should
notice.
-
Poor
or decreased judgment such as dressing inappropriately for the weather
or giving away large amounts of money to telemarketers.
-
Problems
with abstract thinking that have not been evident before, such as
difficulty with balancing the checkbook.
-
Misplacing
things. Everyone loses their keys, but putting them in the
refrigerator is the type of behavior noted here.
-
Changes
in mood or behavior, and rapid mood swings with no apparent reason.
-
Changes
in personality, such as extreme suspiciousness or fear.
-
Loss
of initiative, resulting in sleeping a lot more than usual or watching
television for several hours at a time.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease
If you have concerns about memory or
other behavioral changes, either in yourself or a loved one, it is
important to consult a physician. Many of the symptoms of Alzheimer's
are similar to other conditions that are treatable such as depression,
drug interactions, or vitamin deficiencies. There are also other types of
brain disorders that might be causing the problems. Early diagnosis of AD
can help the family and the person with AD have time to make choices that
will make the most of their quality of life. The best diagnosis for AD
involves several kinds of tests, including both medical and psychological
tests, that are used to rule out all other possible causes.
How might Alzheimer's affect the
family?
Alzheimer's
disease affects the entire family. Visions of a happy retirement may be
erased, and family members are often called on to perform new tasks and to
take on new responsibilities. Because relationships of family members are
usually based on family roles that have been maintained over many years,
changes in these roles can lead to conflict and stress for all concerned.
Family therapists, who are trained to work with the family as a unit, are
well prepared to help families meet the multiple challenges facing them,
including the following:
1)
Redefining
of family roles and the resulting disruption of family routines.
Families must often renegotiate roles as the person with Alzheimer's
declines. Issues related to the ability of the person with AD to drive and
handle finances are often two of the first areas that have to be
addressed. Also, activities related to daily living such as cooking can be
problematic for someone who has memory problems. Many families struggle
with how to renegotiate roles without undermining the person with
Alzheimer's and without overburdening a particular family member.
2)
Communication
difficulties.
Communication with the person with AD may be complicated by memory
problems, repeated conversations, difficulty in finding the right words
and understanding of words.
3)
Nursing
home placement.
Placement in a nursing home is an
option that many families consider, especially as the disease progresses
and when the roles of caregivers become too demanding. It is a major life
change that disrupts the relationships established over many years of
being together. Nursing home placement confuses and strains the ties of
loyalty, commitment, justice, and kinship between partners, parents and
children, and siblings. Family members often feel guilty and view the
transition as a tragic event rather than as a natural step in providing
help for the person with Alzheimer's.
4)
Challenges
of providing day-to-day care. The caregiver often takes on added
roles. Caregivers sometimes become isolated from family members,
relatives, and friends as the demands of care increase.
Day-to-day
care of the person with AD may include challenging behaviors such as
agitation, aggression, wandering, hiding things, and safety concerns
(e.g., cooking and taking medications.)
5)
Dealing with grief.
The person with AD and the family are dealing with multiple levels of
loss, including loss of job, income, financial status and security; loss
of health and functioning; loss of self-esteem (including independence,
dignity, body image, self-control, and family roles, etc.); loss of self
and memory, loss of intimacy; loss of communication and social life; and
loss of a longed-for future.
How can a family therapist help?
Persons
suspected of having Alzheimer's are being diagnosed more quickly than in
the past. This early diagnosis can provide the person with AD and the
family time to work through some of the issues related to the stresses of
dealing with a very slow and devastating illness. Family therapists are
prepared to offer interventions that can help persons with AD and their
families navigate this difficult period and respond to the many changes
within themselves and between one another before the progression of the
disease prohibits communication.
Resources
1.
Official website of the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).
This website is the most comprehensive and up-to-date Internet site on the
topic of Alzheimer's. There
are sections for the person with AD and for caregivers. Topics include:
diagnosis, treatment options, and advice for caregivers. Resources such as
the Caregiver Kit are also available.
2.
Davies, H. D., & Jensen, M. P. (1998). Alzheimer's: The
answers you need. Forest
Knolls, CA: Elder Books. Written for people in the early stages of
Alzheimer's and their caregivers.
3.
McGowin, D. F. (1994). Living in the labyrinth: A personal
journey through the maze of Alzheimer's disease. New York: Dell
Publishing. The author writes of her experiences in the early stages of
AD. Also available in large print and on audiocassette.
4. Mace, N. L., & Rabins, P. V.
(1991). The 36-hour day: A family guide to caring for persons
with Alzheimer's disease, related dementing illnesses, and memory loss
in later life. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. A
classic comprehensive guide to home care covering practical advice as well
as specific examples. This book is readily available through the
Alzheimer's Association.
©
2002 by the AAMFT
Click
here to purchase this or other informative materials from AAMFT.
Marriage and family therapists are mental health professionals who treat a
wide array of disorders, working with individuals, couples, and families.
Marriage and family therapy clients report that they are highly satisfied
with the services they have received, and research shows that marriage and
family therapy is a cost-effective, short-term, and results-oriented form
of treatment.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the
professional organization representing marriage and family therapists,
believes that therapists with specific and rigorous training in marriage
and family therapy provide the most effective mental health care to
individuals, couples, and families. This brochure is courtesy of:
the AAMFT.
Visit the AAMFT
TherapistLocator.net, a public service of the
AAMFT. There you will find information about a range of problems facing
today's families, and you can search for a qualified family therapist in
your area.
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