Caregivers Are Frequently Divided InTo Two Categories -
1.Primary
2. Secondary
A primary caregiver is typically the spouse who lives with the demented person. Although estimates vary, one survey reported that 55 percent of caregivers are spouses, 35 percent are adult offspring, 5 per cent are siblings, and the remainder are other relatives or paid providers of care. In this study, caregivers ranged in age from the late twenties to the early eighties, with the average age between fifty and seventy.
Due to the older age of many of the spouses, caregivers frequently face personal health problems and physical limitations that may increase the difficulty of caring for a demented individual who needs close supervision and assistance in most aspects of daily living. Following spouses, daughters of Alzheimer victims are the next most likely family members to assume the role of providing primary care. It should be noted that children of Alzheimer patients are typically of an age (thirty to fifty years) at which time they may have additional roles, such as childrearing, working outside the home, and other social and community responsibilities. These commitments to spouse and children are important; outside support may therefore be necessary to insure that the family retains the emotional resources needed for optimal growth and development.
Secondary caregivers, who are frequently other relatives, vary greatly in the amount of support and care that they are able to give. Not to be for gotten are the nurses and nurse’s aides who provide care for Alzheimer patients on a daily basis, either at home, at a day-care facility, or a nursing home or hospital. Staff burnout and turnover are major problems at institutions that care for Alzheimer patients. Stress, anxiety, and depression are common in these caregivers and cannot be ignored.
Tags:alzheimer patients, Alzheimers Disease, anxiety and depression, caregiver stress anxiety
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