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Robert Gilhuly
Debock
English 4 Honors

Alzheimers Disease
Memories are the things we uphold. Whether it is good or bad, those memories are
engraved in us and cannot be stolen from us. But what if as time goes by, those memories are
fading? Worse, a person even loses their language skills, ability to recognize familiar faces, and
they feel a sense of depression. As this person grows old he or she experiences deterioration in
ones self. Alzheimers disease hits home for almost every family imaginable. The thought of
losing a loved one or in this care losing their being is the hardest part. Aside from the patients
experience, loved ones and care givers experience a pain almost far worse while watching this
unstoppable disease run its course. Alzheimers disease negatively affects family members and
care giver physically, emotionally, and financially.
Alzheimers affects family members and caregivers in a bigger way than can be assumed.
When the family member or caregiver is hit with the physical distress the patient may not be
receiving the right care needed to treat the disease. According to Murray, With reduced job
satisfaction comes occupational burnout, causing work-related stress and sickness absence
This in turn affects quality of care and safety of the ward environment because there is extra
reliance (Murray 4). When a loved one in this condition one may slip in to a depression, and
have constant stress in their own lives. This then causes physical changes in their life like at the
workplace or even right at home. The families of these patients go through and even larger
struggle. According to Martone, family caregivers are the most underutilized resource in the

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healthcare system (1). The care needed to provide a family member or from a caregivers
position, a patient, takes a lot of understanding and physical well-being. The progressive inability
to properly communicate is more than just a fear, it is a major source of stress, which interferes
with the caregivers obligation and ability to function responsibly. The physical impacts on
family members and caregivers due to Alzheimers Disease are incredibly tough.
This life changing disease has many effects on the patient or the sufferer. While they
change and go through a process which the disease takes, family members and caregivers are hit
just as hard. Family members go through stages of emotional effects that impact them horribly.
According to Murray, There is evidence that informal carers experience a range of emotions
such as guilt, anger, fear, helplessness, denial and depression (Murray 4). It is quite common to
feel guiltyguilty for the way the person with Alzheimers was treated in the past, guilty at
feeling embarrassed by their odd behavior, guilty for lost tempers or guilty for not wanting the
responsibility of caring for a person with Alzheimers Disease. Feelings of distress, frustration,
guilt, exhaustion and annoyance are also common emotional effects of Alzheimers on the
caregiver. It is best for the caregiver, formal or informal, to remain calm at all times and be
understanding of the situation. Alzheimers Disease is a sickness like no other, in particular it
effects the family. According to Alzhiemers Disease and Caregiving, Alzheimer's disease is
called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects
everyone (1). Emotions can take a toll on someone caring for another person with this disease,
especially if that person is a loved one they once knew as normal.
While emotional and physical effects may cause a family member distress the financial
factor may cause the most problems. Some informal caregivers lose their job due to the amount
of time they spend away from work or how many times they are late to work because of the care

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these patients need in the process of Alzheimers. According to Liyaska, Of Alzheimers and
dementia caregivers who are in the workplace and employed, 70 percent of men and 60 percent
of women had to go in late, leave early or take time off because of their care-giving
responsibilities (Liyaska 10). Not only is the out-of-pocket cost for care increasing as the illness
progresses, but also theyre getting pressure on the income side. There is a macro impact on
employers because the increasing health care costs of the aging will likely raise entitlement costs
and eventually taxes. So while the disease progresses into the deeper stages care and treatment
becomes more expensive. The biggest part of spending and bills comes from Medicaid.
According to the statistics, in 2014, the financial toll of Alzheimer's on families rivals the costs
to Medicaid. Total Medicaid spending for people with Alzheimer's disease is $37 billion
(Alzheimers Facts and Figures 1). The disease is not curable so explicit amounts of money will
be spent on proper care, medicines, and doctor bills. This leaves the family almost helpless.
Alzheimers disease negatively affects family members and care giver physically,
emotionally, and financially. The complexities of Alzheimers Disease pose challenges for all.
The profound influence of Alzheimers on the lives of people experiencing the illness, their
families and formal carers is well documented. Education, treatment, and care are vital to ensure
that they are protected from malignant social psychology and disempowering processes. So
while the person diagnosed with this heart-wrenching disease may be suffering his or her loved
ones suffer even more. Proper treatment is a must in maintaining care and insuring that the
disease takes the slowest rate possible. Alzhiemers Disease is a sickness like no other, it not only
affects the patient but every other entity surrounding it.

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Works Cited
Alzheimer's Disease & Caregiving."Alzheimer's Disease & Caregiving. 31 Dec. 2010. Web. 4
Mar. 2015.
"Latest Facts & Figures Report | Alzheimer's Association." Latest Facts & Figures Report |
Alzheimer's Association. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.
Liyakasa, Kelly. "The Emotional - and Financial - Strains of Caregiving." Fairfield County
Business Journal 21 Nov. 2011: 10. Web.
Martone, Robert L., and Nancy A. Piotrowski, PhD. Alzheimers Disease. Ebsco Host. Salem
Press, Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
Murray, Aileen. The Effect of Dementia on Patients, Informal Carers, and Nurses. Nursing
Older People. RCN Publishing Company, 24 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2015

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