Search results for ‘Subject term:"alzheimers disease"’ Sort:
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The time perspective of the Alzheimer caregiver
- Authors:
- POTGIETER Johan C., HEYNS Pieter M., LENS Willy
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(4), July 2012, pp.453-471.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Caring for a spouse diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has potentially negative consequences for the physical and psychological well-being of the caregiver. As it is known that the maintenance of a flexible time perspective holds benefits for individual health, the main purpose of this study was to identify and describe the changes in the time perspective of persons caring for a spouse diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The SELE instrument was administered in order to shed light on the time perspective of a total of 40 carer participants in South Africa. Findings indicated a number of important differences regarding the time perspective of caregivers and non-caregivers. The time perspective of caregivers was severely affected by the caregiving situation and the accompanying grieving process. This proved to be one potential avenue through which the caregiving situation has its negative effect on caregivers’ well-being. The authors concluded that maintenance of a balanced time perspective might prove to be to the benefit of caregiver psychological well-being.
A future state of mind: facing up to the dementia challenge
- Authors:
- BROUGHTON Nida, KEOHANE Nigel, SHORTHOUSE Ryan
- Publisher:
- Social Market Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 84p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In the context of forecasts of an increase in the number of people with dementia as the UK population ages, and the launch of the Dementia Challenge by the Prime Minister in 2012, this report looks at diagnosis and early diagnosis of people with dementia. It is based on an extensive literature review, qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's and their carers or relatives, and quantitative analysis. It notes that evidence suggests that diagnosis is important, and considers the benefits of early diagnosis of dementia, how the UK's diagnosis performance compares internationally and how England performs compared to the devolved administrations. It identifies and discusses patient and professional barriers to early diagnosis. It concludes by proposing policies to improve the early diagnosis rate.
Patterns of formulaic language in Alzheimer's disease: implications for quality of life
- Author:
- WRAY Alison
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 13(3), 2012, pp.168-175.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In this article, a linguist discusses linguistic behaviour in Alzheimer's disease and aims to demonstrate how fundamental social and psychological drivers can affect the language used by people with the disease and their carers. Drawing on a theoretical model, the article looks at 4 aspects of formulaic language: facilitating communication without demanding too much cognitive effort, marking and achieving routine (low-level) communication, getting people to do things because commonly used expressions are easy to understand, and turns of phrase as a reliable way to express and assert personal and group identity. It discusses understanding formulaicity in people with Alzheimer's disease and the impact on, and use by, carers of formulaic language. It explains the dynamics of a downward spiral in interaction featuring more formulaic language from both people with Alzheimer's disease and their carers, and effective approaches for improving interaction. The author concludes that patterns of repetitive language can diminish communication and trigger unhelpful responses in carers, but that formulaic language can also be used constructively to engage more positively with people with Alzheimer's disease.
Mothering my mother: the unbreakable and often unbearable mother–daughter bond
- Author:
- BROMLEY Victoria
- Journal article citation:
- Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 27(2), May 2012, pp.205-211.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Alzheimer’s is a disease affecting everyone who comes into contact with it. While the direct financial costs are well known, the personal toll for those affected by it is far less measurable. This critically reflective narrative reveals some of the challenges that have emerged because of the author’s mother’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease. The author wrote this article in an attempt to offer an alternative understanding of mothering, an understanding framed by her experience of mothering her mother. It examines the complexities of Alzheimer’s to form an intricate personal and intragenerational dialogue.
HCBS can keep people with dementia at home
- Author:
- CHERRY Debra L.
- Journal article citation:
- Generations, 36(1), 2012, pp.83-90.
- Publisher:
- American Society on Aging
Progress towards making HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) a mainstream choice for older adults is challenging when an older person has moderate to severe cognitive impairment. These individuals need a modified continuum of care: one that is dementia-capable. This article discusses approaches that make a difference for people with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias who want to live at home and in their communities—and for their family members. (Publisher abstract)
Alcohol consumption in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: harmful or neuroprotective?
- Authors:
- PANZA Francesco, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(12), December 2012, pp.1218-1238.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is conflicting evidence as to whether light-to-moderate drinking of alcoholic beverages is protective against the development of age-related changes in cognitive function, predementia syndromes, and cognitive decline of degenerative (Alzheimer's disease, AD) or vascular origin (vascular dementia). The authors reviewed the English language literature published on the subject before September 2011. The findings suggested that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with a reduced overall risk of dementia and AD. However, protective benefits afforded to vascular dementia, cognitive decline, and predementia syndromes are less clear. The equivocal findings may result from many of the studies being cross-sectional in design, restrictions by age or gender, or incomplete evaluation. Different outcomes, beverages, drinking patterns, and study follow-up periods or possible interactions with other lifestyle-related (e.g., smoking) or genetic factors (e.g., apolipoprotein E gene variation) may also have contributed to the variability seen. Protective effects of moderate alcohol consumption appear to be more likely in the absence of the AD-associated apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and where wine is the beverage. There is no indication that light-to-moderate alcohol use will be harmful to cognition and dementia but attempts to define what might be deemed beneficial levels of alcohol in terms of cognitive performance could be both highly problematic and contentious.
Does cognitive impairment influence quality of life among nursing home residents?
- Authors:
- ABRAHAMSON Kathleen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 52(5), October 2012, pp.632-640.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study explored the relationship between cognitive status and quality of life (QOL) in Minnesota nursing home (NH) residents. It also looked at the relationship between conventional or Alzheimer’s special care unit (SCU) placement and QOL. The data for analysis came from face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of 13,130 NH residents collected as part of the 2007 Minnesota NH Resident Quality of Life and Consumer Satisfaction survey. Seven QOL domains were examined: comfort, meaningful activities, privacy, environment, individuality, autonomy, relationships, and a positive mood scale. Multilevel models (resident and facility) were used to examine the relationship between the resident’s score on each QOL domain and their cognitive impairment (CI) and SCU placement after controlling for covariates, such as activities of daily living dependency, pain, depression or psychiatric diagnosis, and length of stay. Residents with more severe CI reported higher QOL in the domains of comfort and environment and lower QOL in activities, individuality, privacy and meaningful relationships, and the mood scale. Residents on SCU reported higher QOL in the meaningful activities, comfort, environment, and autonomy domains but had lower mood scores. These findings point to significant variation in QOL domains by CI and may be of value in improving dementia care and developing NH quality indicators that more accurately represent the QOL of NH residents with CI.
Beliefs about Alzheimer's disease in Britain
- Authors:
- HUDSON John M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(7), September 2012, pp.828-835.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite the prevalence and consequences of Alzheimer's disease (AD), surveys have revealed that the general public in North America and Australia hold numerous misconceptions of the disease. This study investigated whether misconceptions of AD are also endorsed by adults in Britain. The Alzheimer's disease knowledge scale (ADKS) was completed by 312 adults residing in Lincolnshire, UK. The ADKS contains 30 true or false statements pertaining to risk factors, assessment and diagnosis, symptoms, course, life impact, caregiving, and treatment and management of AD. Findings revealed that, regardless of age, education, and familiarity with AD, respondents demonstrated a good understanding of some items from all categories. However, knowledge gaps exist about the course of the disease, and of conditions that can exacerbate or simulate the symptoms of AD. The authors concluded that educational campaigns that specifically target these issues may help reduce the impact of AD.
Family stigma and caregiver burden in Alzheimer’s disease
- Authors:
- WERNER Perla, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 52(1), February 2012, pp.89-97.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Research in the area of mental illness suggests that caregivers’ perception of stigma is associated with increased burden. The stigma experienced by the family members of an individual with a stigmatised illness includes 3 dimensions: caregiver self-stigma, lay public stigma, and structural stigma. The aim of this study was to examine whether family stigma is a predictor of caregiver burden in the case of Alzheimer’s disease. The participants were a convenience sample of 185 adult children who were primary caregivers of an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s disease. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants between December 2008 and August 2009. The findings provide evidence that caregiver stigma increases caregiver burden in the case of Alzheimer’s disease. The 2 caregiver stigma variables of shame and decreased involvement with caregiving were found to be the major contributing factors. None of the variables included in the dimensions of lay public stigma or structural stigma added significantly to caregiver burden.
The relationship between self-efficacy and positive aspects of caregiving in Alzheimer's disease caregivers
- Authors:
- SEMIATIN Alicia M., O'CONNOR Maureen K.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(6), August 2012, pp.683-688.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Positive aspects of caring may help buffer carers from the negative psychological and physical consequences of caregiving. Self-efficacy is a potentially modifiable psychological construct that has been associated with positive thinking, improved control of negative affect, and enhanced motivation. This study investigated the relationship between positive aspects of caregiving and self-efficacy among 57 family members caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Participant data was gathered through individual interviews conducted as a part of a larger randomised controlled trial of a caregiver intervention. Result revealed that self-efficacy accounted for a significant percentage of the variance in positive aspects of caregiving after controlling for other factors commonly associated with positive aspects of caregiving including caregiver demographics, care recipient neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregiver depression.