Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pftt2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-12T10:59:25.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dementia Caregiving: The Role of the Primary Care Physician

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Carole A. Cohen ,
Dorothy Pringle  and
Linda LeDuc
Carole A. Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dorothy Pringle
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada
Linda LeDuc
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's Society of Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

Family and friends play an important role in caring for individuals with dementia living in the community. In preparation for the Canadian Consensus Conference on Dementia held in Montreal, Canada in February 1998, the subject of dementia caregiving was reviewed in order to provide primary care physicians with some guidelines for their practice. The review was updated in June 2000 in preparation for this article.

Method:

Pertinent English-language publications and resources from the Alzheimer Society of Canada were reviewed from 1985 onwards. Findings related to the consequences of caregiving, services for caregivers and recommendations regarding the role of the primary care physician were reviewed.

Findings:

Dementia caregivers experience many positive and negative consequences of caregiving. Some comprehensive services for caregivers have been shown to delay institutionalization and reduce negative consequences of caregiving. The primary care physician has a role to play in working with families and should address the following issues: 1) education about dementia; 2) psychological support for caregivers; 3) assistance mobilizing caregiver social support networks.

Conclusion:

Primary care physicians have an important role to play in acknowledging and supporting the caregiving provided by family and friends to individuals with dementia.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 28 , Supplement S1: Canadian Consensus Conference on Dementia , May 2001 , pp. S72 - S76
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2001

References

1. Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group. Patterns ofcaring for people with dementia in Canada: the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Can J Aging 1994; 13:470–487.Google Scholar
2. O’Connor, DE, Pollitt, PA, Brook, CPB, Reiss, BB. The validity ofinformant histories in a community study of dementia. Int JGeriatr Psychiatry 1989; 4:203–208.Google Scholar
3. Schulz, R, O’Brien, AT, Bookwala, J, Fleissner, K. Psychiatric andphysical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving: prevalence, correlates and causes. Gerontologist 1995; 35:771–791.Google Scholar
4. Haley, WE. The family caregiver’s role in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology 1997; 48 Suppl 6:S25-S29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Baumgarten, M, Battista, RN, Infante-Rivard, C, et al. Use ofPhysician Services among Family Caregivers of Elderly Persons with Dementia. J Clin Epidemiol 1997; 50(11):1265–1272.Google Scholar
6. Grunfeld, E, Glossop, R, McDowell, I, Danbrook, C. Caring forelderly people at home: the consequences to caregivers. Can Med Assoc J 1997; 157(8):1101–1104.Google Scholar
7. Cohen, CA, Pushkar Gold, D, Shulman, KI, Zucchero, CA. PositiveAspects in Caring: An Overlooked Variable in Research. Can J Aging 1994; 13(3):378–391.Google Scholar
8. Knight, BG, Lutzh, AA, Macofsky-Urban, F. A meta-analytic reviewof interventions for caregiver distress: recommendations for future research. Gerontologist 1993; 33:240–248.Google Scholar
9. Roberts, J, Browne, G, Gafni, A, et al. Specialized Continuing CareModels for Persons with Dementia: A Systematic Review of the Research Literature. Can J Aging/La Revue canadienne du viellissement 2000; 19(1):106–126 Google Scholar
10. Zarit, SH, Gaugler, JE, Jarrott, SE. Useful Services for Families:Research Findings and Directions. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1999; 14:165–181.Google Scholar
11. Brodaty , H, Gresham, M, Luscombe, G. The Prince Henry Hospitaldementia caregivers’training programme. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1997; 12:183–192.Google Scholar
12. Mittleman, MS, Ferris, SH, Shulman, E, et al. A comprehensivesupport program: effect on depression in spouse-caregivers of ADpatients. Gerontologist 1995; 35:792–802.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Mittleman, MS, Ferris, SH, Shulman, E, Steinberg, G, Levin, B. Afamily intervention to delay nursing home placement of patientswith Alzheimer’s disease. JAMA 1996; 276 No.21: 1725–1731 Google Scholar
14. Teri, L, Logsdon, RG, Uomoto, J, McCurry, SM. BehavioralTreatment of Depression in Dementia Patients: A Controlled Clinical Trial. J Gerontolog Psychol Sci 1997; 52B(4):159–166.Google Scholar
15. Lennox, A. Family Physician CME Project Report Phase 1. The Alzheimer Society of Canada 1997.Google Scholar
16. Rubin, SM, Glasser, ML, Werckle, MA. The Examination ofPhysicians’ Awareness of Dementing Disorders. JAGS 1987; 35:1051–1058.Google Scholar
17. Barret, JJ, Haley, WE, Harrell, LE, Powers, RE. Knowledge About Alzheimer’s disease Among Primary Care Physicians, Psychologists, Nurses, and Social Workers. Alzheimer’s disease and Associated Disorders 1997; 11(2):99–106.Google Scholar
18. McWhinney, IR. ATextbook of Family Medicine. Oxford UniversityPress 1997; 229–257.Google Scholar
19. Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association. Physicians and family caregivers: a model for partnership. JAMA 1993; 269:1282–1284.Google Scholar
20. Cohen, D. A primary care checklist for effective family managementin the Medical Clinics of North America: Management of Patients with Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders. Eisdorfer C, Olsen EJ, Eds. 1994; 78:795–809.Google Scholar
21. Alzheimer Society of Canada. Guidelines for Care. The Alzheimer Society of Canada 1992.Google Scholar
22. American Psychiatric Association. Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias of late life. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154 Suppl 5.Google Scholar
23. Small, GW, Rabins, PV, Barry, PP, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment ofAlzheimer’s disease and Related Disorders: consensus statement of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, T h e Alzheimer’s Association and the American Geriatrics Society. JAMA 1997; 278:1363–1371.Google Scholar
24. Alzheimer Society of Canada. Tough Choices: Ethical guidelines. The Alzheimer Society of Canada 1997.Google Scholar
25. Brodaty, H. The role of the GP in the management of Alzheimer’sdisease. Mod Med Aust 1996; February: 22-37.Google Scholar
26. McCarthy, M, Addington-Hall, J, Altmann, D. The experience ofdying with dementia: a retrospective study. Int J GeriatrPsychiatry 1997; 12:404–409.Google Scholar
27. Luchins , DJ, Hanrahan, P. What is appropriate health care for end-stage dementia. JAGS 1993; 41:25–30.Google Scholar
28. Volicer , L, Rheaume, Y, Brown, J, et al. Hospice approach to thetreatment of patients with advanced dementia of the Alzheimer type. JAMA 1986; 256:2210–2213.Google Scholar
29. Dunkin, JJ, Anderson-Hanley, C. Dementia caregiver burden – areview of the literature and guidelines for assessment andintervention. Neurology 1998; 51(Suppl1):S53-S60.Google Scholar
30. Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination. Canadian Guide to Clinical Preventative Health Care. Ministry of Supply and Services Canada 1994.Google Scholar