The availability of these services will vary from community to community, as will costs and funding sources. A counselor who knows about the resources in the community can aid the family in its search for appropriate services. Families may want to discuss their feelings about receiving outside help. Often, utilization of the available resources helps the family share caregiving demands. Although the patient's changes and losses are the first area of concern, it is also important to understand how Alzheimer's disease affects the whole family.
Any illness creates stress and change in a family system.
Certain themes, difficulties, and reactions are common to persons caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease. However, since each patient is unique and every family is different, variations will exist in how each family comes to grips with the difficult situations they face. All rights reserved.