THE FAMILY CAREGIVERS ROLE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Family caregivers play an essential role in caring for patients with A lzheimer's disease (AD), but caregiving stress often leads to problems in caregivers' mental and physical health. Certain factors predict ca regiver distress, such as the presence of patient behavioral problems and the nature of the caregivers' social supports and coping responses . Several tools are available to assess the level of caregiver distres s: The results are useful in research as well as in the clinical setti ng, in which they can provide insight into patient problems. Caregiver s value written information about AD. They also value support groups a nd respite services, although the effects of these interventions are c ommonly less dramatic than the effects achieved by more intensive psyc hosocial interventions. Physicians and other health care professionals are obliged to address the concerns of AD family caregivers because t hey play a crucial role in the optimal care of these patients.