SIRA: The Paradox of Alzheimer's Caregiving

Caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's is a tough journey. You must be able to survive one emotional upheaval after another and there are many paradoxes when one is attempting to stay connected with a spouse or parent who is becoming a different person. Caregivers and family members experience profound losses and relationship issues. Join expert Sandy Braff, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and co-author of Staying Connected While Letting Go: The Paradox of Alzheimer's Caregiving, as she explains how to stay connected to your loved one with Alzheimer's as you "let go". Series: "SIRA (Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging)" [8/2007] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 12286]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• aging
• health
• alzheimer's

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This video offers us information essential in understanding the condition of a person with Alzheimer's disease. This would teach us to better be patient with them. I pity the people with this disease but we have to manage to support these people.

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this sentence is false

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If charged with abuse, even if none is committed, the patient and the family caregiver are on opposite sides of the table, even if the patient does not wish to or feels no cause to make an accusation.  Their diagnosis prevents them from being considered a credible witness. All those professionals who handle or treat the patient will likely stand against the caregiver, sometimes for their own self-serving reasons which of course is never disclosed. Hidden politics often abound unchecked.

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If anyone suspects you of being angry with the patient, hold any ill will, resentment, you will more likely be asked if there is "any possiblity or thoughts of harming the patient". If you answer yes, you are immediately suspect of possible abuse. BEWARE of venting to people in the healthcare profession, social workers, even total strangers. They can anonymously report you to the police or elder protective services and you will have to prove that no abuse was committed.

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Not all family caregivers have an existing loving relationship with a patient prior to the onset of this disease. This is very dangerous for the caregiver as a loving attitude towards the patient is demanded and watched for by mandated reporters. If a caregiver is suspected of not loving a patient they will be at risk of being accused and reported for abuse and it will be very difficult to disprove. Willful neglect is abuse and carries a felony charge.