ABSTRACT
Caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias are known to experience many physical and emotional problems. However, research has consistently shown that the relationship between the demands of caregiving and the effects on the caregiver is not strong. Despite considerable research, a full understanding of how the demands of caregiving uniquely impact the individual has not been established. The present study examines anticipatory grief, an emotion that has not been studied to date for its possible impact on the current functioning of caregivers. Structured interviews, consisting primarily on standardized measures, were conducted with 100 caregivers. Results of the study show that physical and emotional problems and the expectation to place the patient out of the home were more likely to occur among those caregivers who expressed the most intense grief and those feelings of remorse and anger characteristic of the anger and guilt stages of grief.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/psychology , Attitude to Death , Caregivers/psychology , Grief , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alzheimer Disease/nursing , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Social Support , United StatesABSTRACT
The exploratory study discussed in this article attempted to shed some light on the nature of the depression and grief experienced by caregivers of people with dementia. The findings suggest that the depression so frequently described in the literature may not be as severe or clinically significant as previously thought and that it may be more precisely described as anticipatory grief. Viewing caregivers apparent depression as being the result of grief over the losses they are experiencing may assist practitioners in planning and evaluating the effectiveness of clinical interventions specifically designed for this growing group of clients.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Dementia/therapy , Depression , Grief , Adult , Aged , Dementia/psychology , Depression/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
We describe a psychoeducational group intervention for family members of persons living with AIDS. The 33 family members were compared with 13 waiting-list controls in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. We focus on the practice aspects of the intervention, its development and implementation, and our belief that it is an apparently effective approach for helping family members work through the social and emotional aspects of the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/education , Caregivers/psychology , Family/psychology , HIV Infections/psychology , Psychotherapy, Group/organization & administration , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Curriculum , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Program Evaluation , Social Support , Stress, Psychological/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Anticipatory grief may have beneficial effects for caregivers of people with HIV infection or AIDS. However, the duration of the illness and the stigmatization and multiple losses associated with the disease may impede the caregiver's ability to effectively engage in the grief process. This article discusses the impact of these aspects of the disease on the anticipatory grief process and mourning tasks for caregivers at each stage of the illness. Intervention strategies developed to help the caregiver remain actively involved with the patient and simultaneously grieve losses and prepare for death are specified.
