Abstract
Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and adequately connecting families with information and supportive services continue to be challenging processes. Definitive diagnoses can take months and there is often little in place to systematically link families with community organizations. In this brief descriptive study, the researchers examined family caregivers' (N = 106) experiences with these processes. While specialists and sophisticated tests were often used, 58% of caregivers reported that a definitive diagnosis still took 3 months or longer, with 12% waiting more than 1 year. Caregivers also indicated that they were not provided with adequate information about the disease or about community resources both at the time of diagnosis and 1-year following the diagnosis. These findings suggest that there is ample opportunity to improve services offered to families affected by ADRD and that additional training, coordination, and cooperation may enhance our ability to help during and following the diagnosis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 212-217 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright:Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- dementia
- diagnosis
- family caregivers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health