ALZHEIMER\u27S DISEASE AND THE FAMILY

U ovom radu prikazana su osnovna obilježja socijalno-medicinskog problema Alzheimerova bolest i posljedičnih poteškoća u funkcioniranju obitelji. Alzheimerova bolest je bolest stanica moždane kore i okolnih struktura, a karakterizira je brza progresivnost i ireverzibilnost, te oštećenja živčanih stanica. To je duga i teška bolest, za sada neizlječiva, iscrpljujuća za oboljelog i njegovu obitelj. Manifestira se kao zaboravljivost, izgubljenost u vremenu i prostoru, nemogućnost samostalnog življenja, što dovodi do potpune ovisnosti o stalnoj skrbi i njezi druge osobe, te socijalne izoliranosti oboljelog i njegove obitelji, jer ponašanja oboljelog za društvo postaju neprihvatljiva. U obitelji dolazi do preraspodijele uloga, te emotivnog i materijalnog iscrpljenja. Postojeći domovi umirovljenika i socijalno-zdravstvene ustanove zbog komplikacija simptoma i poremećaja u ponašanju, nerado zbrinjavaju te bolesnike, mnoge udomiteljske obitelji iz sustava socijalne skrbi nisu stručno osposobljene za taj posao, a obiteljska solidarnost i zadržavanje oboljelog u obitelji vremenom postaje nedostatna. Članove obitelji potrebno je obuhvatiti odgovarajućim psihosocijalnim terapijskim tretmanom u svrhu osnaživanja i podrške, uz prigodnu edukaciju i informiranost o obilježjima, tijeku i prognozi ove bolesti. Za sada u je Hrvatskoj moguće zbrinjavanje takvih bolesnika samo u nekoliko odjela unutar psihijatrijskih bolnica, a članovi obitelji najčešće su prepušteni sami sebi. U NPB «Dr. I. Barbot» u Popovači započinje provođenje projekta za potpunu skrb oboljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti, a počet će djelovati i odgovarajuće savjetovalište za podršku članovima njihovih obitelji.In this paper the basic features of the social and medical problem of Alzheimer\u27s disease will be presented, well as the consequential difficulties in family functioning. Alzheimer\u27s disease is an illness of the cerebral cortex cells and surrounding structures. It is characterised by rapid progressiveness, irreversibility and nerve-cell damage. Alzheimer\u27s is a long and serious disease, at present incurable, exhausting for the patients and their families. It is manifested as forgetfulness, disorientation in time and space, and an inability to live autonomously which leads to complete dependance on constant care by another person, and finally to social isolation of the patients and their families, since the behaviour of the patient becomes unacceptable for society. This results in a redistribution of roles in the family, as well as in emotional and financial exhaustion. The existing homes for the elderly and social-health institutions, due to complications of symptoms and disorders in behaviour, avoid taking these patients into care, many foster families from the social welfare system are not qualified to look after them, while family solidarity and keeping the patient within the family ultimately becomes insufficient. Family members need to be included in adequate psychosocial therapeutical treatment with the goal of enforcement and support, in addition to receiving training and information on the characteristics, course and prospects of this disease. In Croatia there are currently only a few wards within psychiatric hospitals that take such patients into care, thus leaving family members mostly on their own. In the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital «Dr. I.Barbot» in Popovača the realisation of a project for complete care of Alzheimer\u27s disease patients has begun as well as the establishment of a corresponding advisory support centre for members of their families