The social consequences for families with Alzheimer's disease patients: potential impact of new drug treatment

✍ Scribed by Anders Wimo; Bengt Winblad; Margareta Grafstrom

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 221 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199905)14:5<338::aid-gps909>3.0.co;2-1

✦ Synopsis

The social consequences of Alzheimer's disease are highlighted in this review with regard to impact on family situation, a changing treatment context caused by demographic changes, reorganization of long-term care, a ®nancial crisis in the public health systems and the introduction of antidementia drugs. In the early phase of dementia there may be signi®cant consequences for the patients and the family members which are largely unrecognized by the healthcare system. As the disease progresses, the impact on caregivers in terms of physical and emotional burden, ®nancial and employment status may be enormous. The current care provision in Sweden, the UK and The Netherlands is described. Innovative care alternatives and strategies may improve the situation. The introduction of antidementia drugs such as the acetylcholine esterase inhibitors may also contribute to improved circumstances for patients and caregivers. There is still a great need for further research in this ®eld.