[The caregiver of a person with Alzheimer's disease].
The caregiver of a person with Alzheimer's disease is most likely to be a woman (in almost 80% of the cases); it may be a daughter, the wife, a sister, a daughter-in-law. The burden of this role is mainly practical (6 hours per day of direct assistance and 7 of surveillance; among the caregivers still working, almost 50% refer changes/worsening in his/her professional life; more than 20% of caregivers refer an evident impact on their health situation; the average cost per patient, including both family costs and society costs, is slightly more than 60,000 euro; but this cure occupation has, on caregiver's life, consequences that can be considered harmful for his or her relationships. For the caregiver, psychological help is fundamental to tackle emotions and difficulties in relating with other people. Each person tackles this occupation in a different way; this is due to the fact that each family has its own unique history and own unique way to relate to other people. On the whole, we can see that these responsibilities are taken only by the families and in particular by the caregiver, great social and economical charges. A redistribution of the resources to help reduce the expenses of the families; more flexible institutional and organizational models; ethical laws that help defend the patients and the caregivers rights, would all certainly make our country a more civilized one.
Spadin
P
P
A.I.M.A. teospadin@tin.it
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028701:Patient Rights; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology