There is, in all honesty, a great deal more that relates to how family is affected by Alzheimer’s. There are issues relating to step families, the elderly spouse who may provide care, the fear of contracting the disease due to hereditary concerns, and many more realities. In short, however, Alzheimer’s is a very frightening and depressing concern for family members who find that their strong relative has suddenly become an infant and in dire need of the most simple, and uncommunicative, care.

At the present time there is no cure for Alzheimer’s though symptoms can be relieved to a degree with certain medications. Early in the disease the patient may experience minimal changes “such as forgetfulness and subtle memory loss, without loss of social skills and behavior patterns” (Diseases, 1997, p. 730). It has been found that “The earlier the diagnosis, the more likely your symptoms will respond to treatment” (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 2002). Another aspect of Alzheimer’s that can be treated somewhat successfully is depression: “Depression can occur in older persons, especially those with physical problems. Symptoms include sadness, inactivity, difficulty thinking and concentrating, and feelings of despair” (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research).

It should also be noted that the abuse that takes place of the elderly in nursing facilities and retirement homes must also be noted. Horrifying reports of elderly patients tied to their beds, left unattended, falling and hurting themselves without receiving any attention from staff, or even beaten have been repeatedly reported. For example, (Carlson, 1999) tells of the case that inspired the State of California’s Supreme Court’s finding for a family in which “the decedent, was left lying in her own urine and feces for extended periods of time and had stage III and IV pressure sores on her ankles, feet, and buttocks at the time of her death. The neglect apparently resulted from rapid staff turnover, staffing shortages, and the inadequate employee training” (pp. 203). Carlson further explains that the California Supreme Court held that “reckless neglect is distinct from professional negligence and therefore the restrictions on remedies against health care providers for professional negligence are inapplicable” (pp. 203).

Rather obviously, the administrators and owners of long term care facilities have an ethical as well as professional obligation to assure the safety and well-being of people in the care of their facilities. As the baby boomers themselves reach retirement age, a greater focus has been put on the abuses of nursing homes. There are those within the long term care industry who believe that a large portion of the population is simply projecting its fear and guilt on the facilities. In reality, the numbers of incidents show that nursing facilities truly can be and are often hellholes for the elderly. Conscientious nursing home administrators and staff must be trained and prepared to deal with the issue while licensure boards, Medicare and Medicaid investigators, and professional societies must share part of the burden of assuring that the nursing home population is protected from abuse and neglect. Furthermore, the role that facility and corporate management play in systemic nursing home neglect cannot be overemphasized.

Professionals and those who care should also urge all caregivers to schedule some free time away from the patient. Studies have shown that concerns of caregivers “included insufficient time for self, other family members, and friends; concern about chronic stress, tension, fatigue, and their own health status; concerns about marriage, lack of privacy and freedom; and concern about increasing impatience and temper” (Horning, 1991). This leads to the other aspect of aging I will discuss – elder abuse.

Some topics in this essay:
Alzheimer’s Disease, Medical Association, Alzheimer's Association, Supreme Court, Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s, Committee Aging, alzheimer’s disease, Medicare Medicaid, Cummings Cole, Policy Research, III IV, health care, elder abuse, caregivers family, strain stress, weddington 1994, anonymous 2002, alzheimer’s patient, victims abuse, memory loss, health care policy, alzheimer’s disease elder, weddington 1994 13, elderly victims abuse, family takes care,