for eMaxHealth
Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients who have an especially close relationship with their patients may have a positive impact on decline of the disease. The study, which was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Utah State University, is believed to be the first to show that such a relationship may occur between a caregiver and an Alzheimer’s patient.
Many studies have explored the emotional and physical effects on caregivers of people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Until now, however, little has been done to understand how caregivers affect the functioning and well-being of the people for whom they provide care.
According to a report from the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving (“Families Care: Alzheimer’s Caregiving in the United States 2004”), most Alzheimer’s caregivers (87%) are helping relatives, and the most common caregiving relationship is between a parent and child (57%). Only 6% of the caregivers in the survey were spouses. This is not unusual, given that the average age of the Alzheimer’s patient was 78.
In this latest study, Constantine Lyketsos, MD, MHS, and director of the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center, noted that a close relationship between caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients may influence whether the patients stay in their homes or go to a nursing facility. He and his colleagues arrived at this conclusion by evaluating 167 pairs of caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients.
The participants were evaluated every six months over a four-year period. Each evaluation included tests that assessed physical, behavioral, functional, and cognitive health. All caregivers were questioned about the caregiving environment and their relationship with their patient.
The researchers found that patients who felt especially close to their caregivers kept more of their cognitive and functional abilities longer compared with patients who did not feel as close to their caregivers. The feeling of closeness was greater in relationships between a spouse and patient than between child and patient. In fact, the decline in spouse/patient relationships was similar to that seen in patients who take Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, including galantamine (Razadyne), donepezil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exelon).
Sources: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Alzheimer’s Association and National Alliance for Caregiving
eMaxHealth welcomes your comments and feedback on this story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
Comments
#1 I Have An Idea That Can Help Caregivers make an Income From Home
Hello, Everyone!
I take care of my mom that has dementia. Taking care of a parent with dementia can be challenging but rewarding. We play different games together to help with her memory. One of her favorite games is The Price Is Right! She also likes Lingo and Family Feud. I enjoy watching her yell out the answers, like they can hear her! There is an improvement since she is around family members. There are days that she can get very confused, and it can be very difficult bring her back to reality. But most of all we love her and what to give her the best of care.
In the state of Tennessee there is very little financial support for family caregivers. You are put on a long waiting list, and the program does not know when they will get to you. I started looking for legitimate home-based businesses that can help me make an income from home while I take care of my mom.
Since I have been taking care of her, I noticed more and more adults that are taking care of their parents too. Some of them were also looking for a way to make a great income from home while they give their parents the best of care.
I want to share them with you. My goal is to start an Network of Caregivers making money online while they take care of their parents. If you interested in making an income from home, p lease checkout these websites !!! If we work together we will succeed.
http://www.website.ws/qman1063 or http://www.freedom.ws/qman1063 Access Code: qman1063
Please Watch Introduction and Full Presentation This is rated #37 in the Fortune 500 Magazine!!! This is an awesome company! We can Make a great income together. Please let us build our dream together!!!
I have another great business where you just communicate with other people. There are over 1,500,000 members on the site!
http://www.directmatches.com/ograM You can create a audio, video, Special Event, We can create Network of caregivers.
If we build our own down line we can generate a residual income: http://www.directmatches.com/ograM
If we work together I know this will work.
My goal is to help caregivers like myself build a great income while we take care of our parents. I get financial assistance for family members. They never complain because they know that mom gets excellent care. She does better with family members. We do not want to put her in a nursing home. I just used to being independent and providing my own income with my husband. He works hard too. I just rather find a great home based business where I can work from home and help others do the same. Please join me!!! If we work together and support each other, IT WILL WORK!
Thank You For Your Time!
Margo