Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function. Alzheimer's affects memory, personality and the ability to provide self-care. Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS, RN, and M. Linda Workman, PhD, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care", report that 4.5 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and family and friends care for many of them.
Safety
Safety is a great concern for the person with Alzheimer's disease at home. In the early stages of the disease, safety concerns center on failing memory and poor concentration and attention. Judgment is affected and decision-making abilities suffer. Someone needs to supervise the affected person to avoid dangerous situations. If the person lives alone, activities of daily living pose real threats. For example, turning the stove on and off, smoking, burning candles and operating a vehicle or machinery are potentially hazardous tasks for the person with Alzheimer's at home.
Wandering from the home is also a frequent problem in the later stages of Alzheimer's. The caretaker should arm doors with audible and visual alerts that sound when doors are opened, and she should lock doors at night to prevent wandering.
Pacing is another safety concern, particularly at night because the person with Alzheimer's experiences sleeping disorders. The caretaker should keep hallways clear and barricade stairwells to prevent falling.
Self-Care Deficit
Intellectual function deteriorates to the point where the person with Alzheimer's disease can no longer manage dressing or grooming himself, hygiene and toileting. The afflicted loses walking ability as well as the ability to sit up independently. Most people affected by Alzheimer's and their caregivers are advanced in age. Providing total care is exhausting. The physical and emotional strain is only understood by people in similar circumstances. Caregivers may become isolated because of the necessity to provide care 24 hours a day.
Cost
Because Alzheimer's disease is a long-term progressive disorder, it requires years of medical care. The financial burden on the affected individual and his family is devastating even with medical and disability insurance coverage. The Alzheimer's Association says Alzheimer's disease treatment consists of medication therapy to slow disease progression, antipsychotic drugs for depression and psychotic behaviors, such as hallucinations and delusions, and home care or adult day care services to assist with activities of daily living and to offer family members respite. Also, the afflicted person needs special supplies at home, including dietary supplements to maintain weight, adult diapers, walkers and special chairs to support the person who can no longer remain upright. They require care for a few years or for as many as 20 years. The care demands increase over time as well, increasing the financial strain.
According to a 1998 research report on health and aging published in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal", the average annual societal cost of caring for a person with moderate Alzheimer's disease in Canada is $25,724. According to a 2004 market survey, skilled nursing home care can cost as much as $70,000 annually in the United States, including Medicare coverage, says Helpguide.org. Where a person lives also affects how much he will pay for nursing home care. For example, patients in Alaska pay more for nursing home care than those in Shreveport, Louisiana.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius, M. Linda Workman; 2006
- Alzheimer's Association: Standard Treatments
- "Canadian Medical Association Journal": Relation Between Severity of Alzheimer's Disease and Costs of Caring
- Helpguide: A Guide to Nursing Homes
