Question

Dementia. Is the rate of dementia increasing? How will you deal with dementia? Are you or will you work in a dementia care facility? Why do you think the care givers that deal with dementia suffer from higher than average rates of depression? How do we help the care givers?

Answer 1

According to the available data with alzheimers association, rate of dementia/alzheimers is increasing. This could also be due to increasing number of elderly population in the US . Also death rate due to alzheimers during the period 2000 to 2015 has increased by 123%. As of now there is no known cure for dementia. Even conflicting research indicates that the dementia patients on medication are at higher risk of death than their non medicated dementing peers. So management of dementia has to be carried out from a biopsychosocial perspective. Being involved in cognitive activities and social interactions have found to slow down cognitive decline associated with dementia (studies like nun study). Also community care model is catching up and creating day homes in the public sector where dementia patients can spend time is bound to bring down the cost associated with dementia care. As a psychologist every one should be able to render their service in dementia care facility to address the problem of increasing number of dementia patients. Care giver burn out is highest among those associated with dementia than those associated with other diseases. Increasing burden of assisting the dementing patient in their activities of daily living makes it difficult for them . And non recognizing by the dementing patient becomes devastating to the care giver who is a family member . This results in emotional difficulties and higher rate of depression among care givers. Hence at the time of diagnosis itself care givers should be educated about the nature of illness and challenges. Their worries about financial commitments can only be addressed through a community care model. Care givers should be given counseling to address their emotional problems and should be encouraged to arrange for alternatives occasionally so that they can involve in recreational activities.