Barnes R F, Raskind M A, Scott M, Murphy C
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1981 Feb;29(2):80-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1981.tb01233.x.
An eight-week support group program was conducted for 15 members of the families of Alzheimer patients still living at home. It became clear that caring for an Alzheimer patient at home created tremendous practical, psychologic and social problems for family members. Frequently discussed problems included lack of support and information from physicians, poor understanding of the disease, depression, a trapped feeling, anger and fear about the patient's behavioral problems, isolation, and the caretaker's loss of self-identity. Group participation was especially beneficial for spouses who functioned as primary care providers. It increased their understanding of the disease, made them feel more supported and less isolated, and helped them resolve some of the feelings created by the illness. It also helped spouses to become more aware of their own needs and to regain some self-identity in relation to the patient. Such family support programs offer a way to strengthen the emotional well-being and treatment skills of the care-providing family and are an important aid to treatment in Alzheimer's disease.
为15名仍住在家里的阿尔茨海默病患者的家庭成员开展了一个为期八周的互助小组项目。很明显，在家照顾阿尔茨海默病患者给家庭成员带来了巨大的实际、心理和社会问题。经常讨论的问题包括缺乏医生的支持和信息、对疾病了解不足、抑郁、被困感、对患者行为问题的愤怒和恐惧、孤立无援，以及照顾者自我身份的丧失。小组参与对担任主要照顾者的配偶尤其有益。这增加了他们对疾病的了解，让他们感到得到了更多支持且不那么孤立，并帮助他们化解了一些由疾病引发的情绪。这也帮助配偶更加了解自己的需求，并在与患者的关系中重新找回一些自我身份。这类家庭支持项目为增强提供照顾的家庭的情感幸福感和治疗技能提供了一种方式，并且是阿尔茨海默病治疗的一项重要辅助手段。
