SOME ASPECTS OF CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Skrb za osobu oboljelu od Alzheimerove bolesti ili nekog drugog oblika demencije opisana je kao najzahtjevniji oblik skrbi s kojim se osoba treba suočiti, sukladno razvojnom stadiju bolesti. Obitelj čini najveći resurs u skrbi za osobu oboljelu od Alzheimerove bolesti kada ona više nije u mogućnosti efi kasno skrbiti sama o sebi. Dosadašnja istraživanja pokazala su da skrbnici tri četvrtine dana provode u skrbi za oboljelog, a taj udio provedenog vremena pokazuje trend povećanja kako bolest napreduje. Skrb za člana obitelji oboljelog od Alzheimerove bolesti može imati negativan utjecaj na obitelj, odnosno skrbnika na psihološkom, profesionalnom i/ili fi nancijskom planu (često odustaju od plaćenog rada ili su prisiljeni reducirati broj radnih sati), a može poremetiti i međusobne odnose s obitelji i širom okolinom. Preuzimanjem zahtjevne uloge skrbi o članu obitelji, skrbnik često također postaje »žrtvom bolesti« koja treba pronaći načine nošenja sa svime što bolest donosi. Stoga je cilj ovog rada, temeljem pregleda relevantne literature, identifi cirati nekoliko općih problema s kojima se suočavaju skrbnici osobe oboljele od Alzheimerove bolesti. Nadalje, u radu se stavlja fokus na iskustva skrbnika, na razumijevanje teškoća s kojima se skrbnici susreću u skrbi za oboljelog člana obitelji, uključujući između ostalog depresivnost i skrbnički stres. Naglašavase važnost podrške u skrbi za osobu oboljelu od Alzheimerove bolesti, te su dane preporuke za daljnje djelovanje.The care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or with some other type of dementia is described as the most demanding form of care and the approach to the care depends on the illness stage. The family presents the largest resource in the care for a patient with Alzheimer’s disease when he is no longer capable of taking care of himself effi ciently. The research up to date suggests that the carers spend three quarters of a day caring for the patient, and this portion increases with the progress of the disease. The care for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease can have a negative eff ect on the family, i. e. the carers, on psychological, professional and/or fi nancial level (they frequently quit paid jobs or are forced to reduce working hours) and it can disturb relations within the family and with the environment. By assuming a very demanding role of caring for a family member, the carer often becomes »a victim of the disease« who needs to find ways of dealing with the burden of the disease. Therefore, the objective of this article is, on the basis of relevant literature, to identify certain general problems with which are faced the carers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the article focuses on carers’ experience, understanding the diffi culties with which the carers are faced in caring for a sick family member, including depression and carer stress. The importance of the support in the care for a patient with Alzheimer’s disease is also underlined and suggestions for future actions are proposed