FIRST INTERNATIONAL ALZHEIMER’S SURVEY WITH PATIENT INPUT REVEALS SOCIAL INTERACTION REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Ogilvy Health PR
Posted on: 28 May 08
Munich, Germany, 26 May 2008 – The first ever international survey of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has shown that patients consider maintaining a social life and feeling safe and supported at home to be just as important to them as receiving medical treatment that helps control their symptoms. The survey results were presented today at the 18th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Oslo, Norway.
Commenting on the survey results, Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International said, “Patients may have a debilitating disease but they too have needs, hopes and expectations from life and want to live a normal life as much as possible. It’s important that healthcare professionals and carers acknowledge the value of helping patients maintain a healthy social life as well as seeking effective medical treatment.”
Caregivers agreed with the most important issues highlighted by patients but also said that access to detailed information about AD and opportunities to discuss the condition and its treatment with physicians are also important to them.
The survey also highlights areas that carers would like to see enhancements such as making treatment compliance and medication management easier, and greater access to information”, said Prof. Alexander Friedrich Kurz, M. D., Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Centre for Cognitive Disorders at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany who presented the survey results.
Caregivers highlighted more areas where their needs are not being met compared with patients. In the US, patients felt that all of the needs that are important to them were being met, although improvements are required in the areas of treatment effectiveness (Germany, Spain); the ability to enjoy life (France, Germany, Spain); feeling safe and supported at home and keeping up a social life (Brazil).
SOURCE: PharmiWeb
----------------------------
An understanding of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), is vital for family, friends and caregivers. Ignorance of the changes to behaviour of sufferers, can at times lead to elder abuse. Many carers of AD sufferers are often put under extreme stress. We should be empathetic towards their situation and strive to assist them.
---------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment