Providing Counseling for Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers

✍ Scribed by Paul F. Granello; Matthew S. Fleming

• Publisher: American Counseling Association
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 197 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1524-6817
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-0029.2008.tb00039.x

✦ Synopsis

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that results in brain wasting and eventual death. With its increasing diagnosis rate, counselors will likely acquire clients with Alzheimer's disease or their caregivers. Important background information and several practical counseling methods are provided that may assist counselors working with this population.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, fatal condition that results in brain wasting and eventual death. Approximately 4.5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease increases to nearly 50% by age 85 . The annual economic cost of Alzheimer's disease on the American economy is estimated to be more than $100 billion. Furthermore, as the median age of the American population increases over the next several decades, the number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is projected by Hodes to increase to more than 13 million by 2050.

In the future, counselors will likely encounter clients who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or who are caregivers of someone with the disease. The purpose of this article is to provide counselors with a summary of the implications of Alzheimer's disease and strategies for managing therapy with people whose lives are affected by Alzheimer's. By familiarizing themselves with information regarding the theories of etiology, behavioral effects, symptoms, diagnostic methods, current medical treatments, specific counseling considerations, and treatment interventions for those with Alzheimer's and for their caregivers, counselors can become better prepared to work with these clients.