title: Impact of chronic illness on the patient's spouse.
abstract: The spouse of a chronically ill person can experience a variety of undesirable reactions, such as anxiety, self-blame, or anger. Using a case example that involves Alzheimer's disease--a presenile condition--the author explains how social workers can help clients cope with and adjust to the problems created by a spouse's illness.
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009679:Nuclear Family; D012947:Social Work