2022 Winter GAPNA Newsletter Volume 41 Number 4

Alzheimer’s Association’s Six Important Terms Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Should Know

  1. Person-centered care is associated with professional caregivers in long-term care settings and offers guidance for family caregivers. This form of care is to understand the perspective of the individual with dementia.
  2. Dementia-related behaviors. Behavioral symptoms related to Alzheimer's and other dementia include aggression and anger, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, wandering, and suspicions/delusions.
  3. Caregiver burnout. Alzheimer’s caregivers experience higher levels of stress than non-dementia caregivers. Fifty-nine percent of caregivers report high or very high emotional stress, and 35% report declining health because of caregiving.
  4. Respite care provides caregivers with temporary rest from caregiving while the person with Alzheimer’s receives care in a safe environment.
  5. Care consultations can assist family members with decisions and challenges and develop an effective care plan.
  6. Treatment pipeline. Over 100 disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatments are in clinical trials. While new treatments will not necessarily cure Alzheimer’s, they can address the underlying biology of the disease and new ways to slow its progression.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association. (2022). Six essential terms every alzheimer’s and dementia caregiver needs to know. https://www.alz.org/news/2022/six-essential-alzheimers-terms