Maccioni et.al (2001) posit that the Alzheimer ailment is a progressive neurological ailment. According to Han et.al (206), the disease attacks the brain tissues and leading to severe memory losses of one’s identity and regular behavior. The findings are further supported by Butterfield et.al (2011), and Shonkoff and Philip (2000) when they noted that aging brain cells makes a person be more susceptible to Alzheimer. Statistic indicates that the rate of Alzheimer among the aging population is likely to increase (Herbert et.al, 2003; Kaleria et.al, 2008; Herbert et.al, 2013). Since my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer, I have been doing research on it as a means of being acquainted to the condition. As families deal with Alzheimer, there is a prudent need to create awareness on how to handle patients with Alzheimer at familial and household level.
Notably, Alzheimer is most frequent among the elderly population (Mega et.al, 1996). Dr. Alois Alzheimer initially discovered Alzheimer in 1906 when it was diagnosed on a female brain (Moller & Graeber, 1998; Dahm, 2006; Lage, 2006). The distinct characteristics displayed by the female at the time was a language problem, memory lapse among other inexplicable occurrences.
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It is projected that by 2050, approximately 14 million people will be affected by Alzheimer (Herbert et.al, 2013). Additionally, the diseases are considered the fourth leading cause of mortality among the adults. The role of caregivers comes out as the most fundamental aspect in homecare (WHO, 2000). It includes the provision of emotional and physical support as well as performing activities geared at enhancing better care on the patient. In addressing care accorded to the patients, primary caregiver becomes directly involved in all activities that support the caregiver (Schulz & Martire, 2004; Coleman et.al, 2004; Reinhard et.al, 2008). On the other hand, the secondary caregiver can only work on behalf of the primary caregiver while providing basic support mechanisms. There is need to create awareness on how to handle patients with Alzheimer, which is key to ensuring that the affected people are put in the right mental state to manage the disease.
References
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