Helping the family carers of Alzheimer's patients: from theory...to practice. A preliminary study

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the most important health issues in the western world. The ongoing care that the AD patient requires typically causes high stress levels, fatigue, irritation and depression in the caregiver, as well as socio-economical problems. The current study aimed to introduce a support program for carers of AD patients, in order to improve their quality of life. A Questionnaire for Carers and an Anxiety State Feature Questionnaire (STAI) was used to assess the carers. Results showed an overall improvement in the carers' health. Their subjective wellbeing increased, and though their situation had not changed, they nevertheless described feeling less trapped. It can be concluded that possibly the mere fact that the carers feel that they have help available is enough to endorse the value of the program.