Patient discussions
Physicians should discuss diagnosis, management, and prognosis with the patient, their family, and any other caregivers. Discussions about future care (including advance decisions) and financial matters should take place at an early stage.[104][106]
Strategies that may foster improved communication between patients with AD and caregivers include using short and simple sentences, explaining things, decreasing distractions, asking close-ended questions or providing response choices, and not pushing the patient to come up with a word, name, or memory.[192]
Caregivers and families of patients with AD experience significant stress that sometimes leads to depression, verbal and physical abuse of the patient, or dependence on alcohol and other drugs. This may be particularly relevant in cases where the patient has behavioral symptoms such as aggression and wandering. It can be helpful to discuss coping techniques with caregivers, making them aware of respite care, and identifying means of drawing on support from friends, other family members, community organizations, and home care agencies.
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