This guide on Alzheimer's disease is for those who care for Alzheimer's patients, as well as those who want to learn more about the disease. It answers these questions: (1) what is Alzheimer's? (2) how does the disease progress and how long does it last? (3) how do families cope? and (4) who can provide assistance and information? The guide also…

Presents case study which highlights attendant cognitive changes that occur in Alzheimer's patient, presenting caregiver with challenges to couple's sexual functioning. Describes man who reported erectile dysfunction directly stemming from stressful changes that had occurred in his relationship to his wife who had Alzheimer's disease. General…

Notes that some demented elderly people can still recall emotionally subjective past. Outlines case study that illustrates how emotional autobiographical memories of past events can be stimulated through individual use of reminiscence and counseling skills. Suggests that there are possible therapeutic effects attached to this approach and that…

Describes an intermittent, focused social work intervention to help overcome personal and intrapsychic barriers to using available help for wives of Alzheimer's patients. Discusses therapeutic goals, common themes, and implications for practice with caregiving wives with specific attention to supporting the wife in her wish to "responsibly…

Conceptualizes separation-individuation conflicts in caregivers as behavior under dual control of nonverbal and verbal antecedents and consequences of others and dysfunctional self-rules of caregiver. Describes two types of treatment in context of case study: changing caregiver's problem behaviors by training nursing home staff and teaching…

Presents two strategies for treating depression in Alzheimer's patients: cognitive therapy for mildly demented adults which challenges patient's negative cognitions to reduce distortions and enable patient to generate more adaptive ways of viewing specific events; and behavioral intervention for moderately or severely demented adults which…

Alzheimer's disease caregiver support groups were developed simultaneously in two cities with existing Alzheimer's disease support groups but without ethnic minority use. "Ethic competence" concept, featuring ethnographic methods, was applied in African-American and Hispanic communities in both sites. In 2 years, 114 ethnic minority primary…

The care of individuals with dementia requires knowledge and competencies across a wide range of physical and psychosocial aspects of the disease. Yet the quality of care for persons with dementia suffers from staff shortages and inadequate training about the treatment and optimal care strategies for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Attention…

Describes assessment technique used by interdisciplinary staff on coed Alzheimer's disease unit to help determine patients' competencies to participate in intimate relationships. Two case studies are presented to highlight how assessment led to treatment decisions. (Author/NB)

Reviews existing studies of use of formal care by families of Alzheimer's sufferers with special attention to findings relevant to access, particularly perceptions of appropriateness and acceptability or consistency with other needs and values. Applied conceptual model represented by these findings to narrative that serves as proxy for real case.…

Describes plans for Community Outreach Education Program (COEP), designed to provide educational interventions to disseminate information about diagnoses, assessment, management, and treatment of dementia to health care professionals, service providers, staff or volunteer and community agencies, and family members. Describes plans within context…

Notes that, as American population ages and mental health counselors focus services on older adults, the identification, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of dementia will become valuable clinical skill. Presents nontechnical information regarding dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia, testing, and therapeutic…

Describes bibliotherapeutic process and techniques that mental health counselors can use to effect intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual growth in older persons. Envisions new opportunities for work with older persons who are chemically dependent, victims of abuse, or Alzheimer patients. Proposes research tool that observes participant's…

This report analyzes the problem families and others face in locating and arranging appropriate services for people with dementia and discusses federal policy options for the development of a system to resolve the problem. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the problem and discusses the factors that determine what kind of system is needed to link…

This "gray paper" asserts that the physical, emotional, and financial needs of unpaid caregivers--usually women--have been largely ignored in our national health care policy regarding care for the severely disabled elderly. It discusses the problem of the caregiving role for wives of severely incapacitated husbands, noting that the present health…