Caregivers of Alzheimer Patients
Strategies that affect behavioral and psychological symptons
Most Research on Behaviorial and Psychological Symptoms (BPS) has been on Patients
According to Garcia-Alberca and associates, no studies have been conducted regarding the impact of caregiver coping strategies on BPS of Alzheimer patients (2013). However, in their research, 62% of the Alzheimer patients were women with an average age of 77.
Daughters and houswives are typically involved in caring for Alzheimer's patients
Approximately, 57% of caregivers reported significant levels of stress and 53.7% reported significant levels of depression (Garcia-Alberca, Cruz, Lara, Garrido, Lara, Gris, and Gonzalez-Herero, 2013).
The main BPS symptoms were: Apathy (92%), irritability (63%), depression (58%), & agitation (50%).
Engagement Coping Strategies vs. Disengagment Coping Strategies
Engagement coping strategies include: positive thinking, problem solving, using social support, and expressing emotions.
Disengagement coping strategies include: avoiding problems, wishful thinking, and self-criticism.
Disengagement coping strategies include: avoiding problems, wishful thinking, and self-criticism.
disengagement coping strategies proved to create more severe BPS in alzheimer patients
Caregivers also benefit from using engagement coping strategies by lowering their own anxiety and depression.