Talk:Caregiving and dementia

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Copy-pasted from Talk:Alzheimer's disease:

Contents

[edit] Caregivers

Is it only me that thinks the article needs more on the caregivers, respite care, etc.? It says 24 million afflicted, but we all know that the family members charged with giving care often suffer more than the patient...LeadSongDog (talk) 22:15, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

I think an equivalent article to Sociological and cultural aspects of autism is needed. It could link to the 'AD in the Media' page, and could go some more into caregiving too. As an example, thousands of elderly people marched in the UK last year over Donepezil, and the general feeling they are being ignored. The Autism FA actually has around 10 direct sub-articles, btw (though some are buried in the text).
Another specific sub-article like Caregiving and Alzheimers might be needed. When not specifically drug-related, it's outside of pubmed of course - but lots of stuff to quote is certainly out there. It's one of those areas that both is and isn't 'original research', as the final result will be fully weighted and credibly cited etc. A benefit is that it can be linked to at top, for people who are looking just for this.
The main AD article could mention a few more of these factors - for instance, some families choose not to tell the sufferer - a big decision: it can make for a much happier time, but is it apt, ethical, and fair? Doctors etc, when informed of this, keep up the 'secret'.
I think an equivalent to Autism therapies is needed too (therapies, tracking, dogs etc). Two other sub-articles should really cover all the speculation of causes, and the 'alternative' treatments too (which would be useful as so much is out there, and doctors give conflicting advice). AD is no small subject, and all these articles will occur eventually, I'm sure (as they have with Autism, and, in general, everything else).
The Autism article isn't great on caregiving either, despite being 'FA' - I have a friend who has brought up a son with autism, and she would just laugh - she and her son did all the work. At 81 she is still contacted for her knowledge. Caring->knowledge->skills/ideas->treatment. --Matt Lewis (talk) 03:42, 17 February 2008 (UTC)
Respite care has some good stuff, but is barely start-class if that. Rather than Caregiving and Alzheimers a more general Caregiving and dementia article might be better for now.LeadSongDog (talk) 05:39, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
The Harris poll along with the Alzheimer's Foundation has done a few surveys on Caregiving that might be good sources for caregiver concerns, needs, etc. Mary Mittleman has done some work on caregiver strategies to keep folks at home. --Chrispounds (talk) 14:52, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
Just tried a Google scholar query on "dementia caregiving" OR "dementia caregiver" and got 2080 hits! Something tells me this is an overdue article.LeadSongDog (talk) 16:21, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Assessment

Based on my quick look at the article, it needs an explanation of what makes caring for a person with dementia significantly different from caring for a person with, say, cancer or quadriplegia or severe mental retardation. Otherwise, you could make this article be a subsection of caregiver. WhatamIdoing (talk) 22:25, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Other sources

I CAN Survey [1] I CAN 2 Survey [2]

Costs from MetLife [3] --Chrispounds (talk) 15:00, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Original research

I've removed the OR tag OrangeMike added 18 February 2008, as I think it's now addressed. If there are any issues still remaining, please re-add, preferably tagging the suspect section.LeadSongDog (talk) 02:37, 25 April 2008 (UTC)