Alzheimer's: the Effect on the Family - Research Paper Example

Alzheimer: The Effect on the Family Alzheimers disease (AD) refers a medical condition that results to abnormal changes of the brain (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2014). Numerous factors can cause Alzheimers disease. About 5.4 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimers disease with the aged bearing the greatest risk to contact the disease. According to literature, “Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5 million Americans age 65 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease” (National Institutes of Health, 2015). Alzheimers affects the memory, thinking, brain functioning, language, and other cognitive abilities of a victim (National Institutes of Health, 2015). The effect on brain function jeopardizes the normal function and social interactions of a victim. These effects prevent the patient from living without care from the family, caregivers, or friends (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2014). However, Alzheimer’s Association confirms that Alzheimers disease has no cure and hence patients must be under care for their entire life. The contraction of the disease and the need for long-term care has diverse effects on the patient and the people responsible for offering care. Effects of Alzheimers disease On the Family Alzheimers is rampant in America especially among the elderly (National Institutes of Health, 2015). The disease disorganizes the brain leading to reduced memory and other cognitive defects. Factors like psychological trauma, heart disease, and brain damage can lead to this condition although Alzheimers disease is also inheritable (Taylor et al., 2010). Patients suffering from the disease lose their memory, thinking capacity, feelings and ability to talk that makes it difficult for them to survive without the input of their families or friends. Since Alzheimers disease has no cure, the condition of a patient suffering from the disease can only get worse thus demanding more support from the family. Apparently, the patient and their family face numerous challenges in trying to control the disease a sit progresses through various stages. Families suffer emotionally on experiencing the deterioration of a loved one’s health. Indeed, families must accept the fact that their loved one has the incurable terminal disease. However, it is not easy to accept this fact and hence some families suffer from self-denial and emotional distress upon learning that one of their members has Alzheimers disease. According to Alzheimers Association, “Many individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families find behavioral and psychiatric symptoms to be the most challenging and distressing effects of the disease” (2015). The effects of Alzheimers disease are distressing to the patient and their family. Apparently, the effects of Alzheimers disease influence the family’s decision to take care of the patient at home or to transfer them to caregivers. These effects also influence the quality of care and life experienced by the patient at the hands of caregivers (Alzheimers Association, 2015). In offering treatment to the patients, caregivers must consider the needs of the entire family since the disease has an indirect impact on the family. According to Family Caregiver Alliance, “Caregivers must focus on their own needs, take time for their own health and get support and respite from caregiving regularly to be able to sustain their well-being during this caregiving journey” (2014). Ideally, families have to neglect their health and other needs to focus on giving care to the family members with Alzheimers disease (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2014). Families encounter financial challenges resulting from their decision to offer care since they lose opportunities to earn some sustainable income. Moreover, offering care requires huge resources, emotional and logistical support, and moral guidance. Families must look for these resources in order to offer effective care to family members with Alzheimers disease. Since Alzheimers patients might survive for a long time, families must spend a lot of time and money to offer full-time care for the patients. In most cases, families end up subscribing to long-term care insurance policies to meet the costs. Indeed, “People who find that they have the variant of the trait that increases Alzheimers disease risk are more likely to purchase long-term care insurance after receiving this information” (Taylor et al., 2010). The huge resources used in caregiving can jeopardize the family’s financial stability. The diagnosis of the disease also derives strong emotions within the family. The patient’s spouse may face emotional dilemma since they may have to address their health needs even as they care for the patient. Moreover, patient’s spouse and the entire family may manifest a sense of insecurity, fear, and uncertainty about the future especially where the patient was the breadwinner of the family. Alzheimers forces family members to reverse roles. Indeed, a husband will have to take women roles if the wife suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. However, reversing of roles might not be an easy task and families might even alienate at this point (Dementia Today, 2012). Notably, both children and adults may result to anger, grief, frustration, sadness, or fear upon realizing that one of their family members suffers from the disease (Dementia Today, 2012). Indeed, families feel the loss of a member and a relationship (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2014). Sadly, patients could no longer communicate or remember any family member. Some family members might also lose their entitled attention where the entire family focuses of caring for the family member with Alzheimer’s disease. Children may also feel isolated and saddened if adults do not offer clear explanation about the effects of the disease on a family member. Ideally, children develop diverse emotions upon learning that their parent or any other family member is suffering from the disease. Ideally, “Younger children may be fearful that they will get the disease or that they did something to cause it” (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2014). Subject to their naivety, they may also tend to assume responsibility for causing the disease as they sympathize with the patient. Adolescents may feel embarrassed that their family member is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2014). The situation might develop frustration and anger among family members as they struggle to care for one of their own (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2014). The embarrassment may force the adolescents to evade social events or skip school. Moreover, the adolescents might face challenges in adjusting themselves to the eminent duties and reversed roles. Indeed, “They may feel overwhelmed by the looming responsibilities of working within or outside the home, caring for their own children and helping their parent” (Dementia Today, 2012). The fact that the patients suffering from Alzheimers disease tend to wander around may stress the patients’ family. Both children and adults may deny the reality of the disease in the family subject to the discomfort caused by the disease (Dementia Today, 2012). Apparently, it challenges the family to care for the patient, change family roles, or take one of their own to a care facility for good. References Alzheimer Society of Canada. (2014). Impact on family and friends. Retrieved from http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/Living-with-dementia/Staying-connected/How-relationships-change/Impact-of-the-disease/Family-and-friends Alzheimers Association. (2015). Behavioral Symptoms. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_behavioral_symptoms_pr.asp Alzheimers Association. (2015). Changes in Relationships. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/i-have-alz/changes-in-relationships.asp Dementia Today. (2012). Effect of Alzheimer’s on Family Members. Retrieved from http://www.dementiatoday.com/effect-of-alzheimers-on-family-members/ Family Caregiver Alliance. (2014). Alzheimers Disease & Caregiving. Retrieved from https://caregiver.org/alzheimers-disease-caregiving National Institutes of Health. (2015). Alzheimers Disease Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet Taylor, Donald L.,,Jr, Cook-Deegan, R., Hiraki, S., Roberts, J. S., Blazer, D. G., & Green, R. C. (2010). Genetic testing for Alzheimer’s and long-term care insurance. Health Affairs, 29(1), 102-8. Read More