The Role of the Family in the Care and Management of Patients With Dementia

Abstract Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are complex syndromes with a spectrum of cognitive, functional, behavioral, and psychological symptoms that reduce the quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. While caregiving is often stressful, there are also potential benefits—fulfilling family obligations, feelings of self-satisfaction by giving back, delays in nursing home placement. However, these benefits cannot be obtained if caregivers do not develop a care plan for the person with dementia, seek out available community resources, and maintain their own physical, mental, and emotional health. With public policies and practice models shifting the focus of care to outpatient settings and the community, there is widespread acknowledgment of the importance of disease management and care provision tasks families perform. This awareness has led policy makers and the health and social service professions to acknowledge that family caregivers must be recognized and attention devoted to promoting a family-centered service paradigm.