Counseling and Support for Alzheimer's

Counseling and Support for Alzheimer's Patients Premise of the Article The article describes a study that was conducted to determine whether counseling intervention could provide some relief for families who care for an ultimately institutionalize family members with Alzheimer's disease. Research questions include whether institutionalization alone relieves the burden and depressive symptoms within the family, and whether counseling would do much more towards such relief. The hypothesis appears to be that counseling intervention would indeed provide a higher degree of relief than only institutionalization.

The article is useful in terms of treating not only those who are institutionalized, but also understanding the background concerns within the family involved; better care can be provided for the sick when their background is understood. Population Sample A sample of 406 spouses of persons with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was recruited through a number channels, including the NYU-ADRC, Alzheimer's Association chapters, physician, public media announcements, and community providers who referred them.

This size and nature of this sample are appropriate for the study, as it was taken at random from relevant and representative settings. Data Collection Instruments and Tools Three measures were used to collect and measure data: Nursing Home Admission (NHA), Bruden, and Depressive Symptoms. The first item was retrieved from interviews, NYU-ADRC records, and telephone interviews with caregivers and family members. Burden was measured by means of the Zarit Burden Interview, a widely-used instrument to measure caregiving burden.

Depressive Symptoms were determined by means of a 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Validity and reliability are compromised by a lack of racial diversity in the population, and by a lack of specific measures to determine stress or related experiences of the transition to caregiving facilities. Validity and reliability are important components of any study, as these provide a sense of authenticity to the research and its findings. Research Design At the beginning of the research, participants received an assessment protocol by means of structured questionnaires.

They were then randomly divided into the experimental, comprehensive counseling group and the control group. The initial assessment protocol was then re-administered every three months during the first year of study and every six months during the years to follow. The study stretched over 15.9 years. During this time, 210 patients were institutionalized, of which 99 caregivers received comprehensive counselling and 111 did not. The comprehensive intervention group received individual and family counseling, support group participation, and ad hoc counseling.

The effects of the intervention on the various assessment items were estimated by means of random effects regression growth curve analyses, by means of a multilevel change model. Longitudinal trajectories for individual participants were used at one level, while a second level included the effects of between-subjects predictors at the higher order. To construct the models, 4,193 observations were used over time, with 3,055 of these conducted ruing community caregiving and 1,148 in the nursing home. Presentation of Data Data are presented by means of two figures and three tables.

The data appear to be very clearly explicated. The axes in the figures are all clearly marked, and the lines differentiated to indicate the data of concern. The tables clarify the information narrated in the document. Limitations of Statistical Methods Limitations include the lack of ethnic diversity in the sample population. Different cultures would respond differently to the burden of care and to counseling intervention.

Furthermore, only spouse caregivers were targeted for the research, which limits the application of the data to households where children or other family members act as caregivers. Study Outcomes The outcome of the study was significant, as it revealed that institutionalizing patients with Alzheimer's disease has a positive effect upon the depression and relief levels of the caregivers involved. Counselling proved to have a positive effect in terms of making caregivers aware of the possibilities and benefits relating to institutionalization for patients who need it.

As mentioned generalizability is compromised by the homogeneous nature of the population sample. What I would do in subsequent studies is to collect population samples from several sectors of society, with the only requirement being.