THE RISE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN

AMERICA & THE EFFECTS IT HAS

ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILY SYSTEMS &THE FUTURE OF

THE SOCIAL WORK FIELD

By: Amber Nolan

IN LOVING MEMORY OF:CATHERINE BUCCELLATO

IMAGINE…Brief Interview For MentalStatus (BIMS) Repeat three words?

Year?

Month?

Day of the week?

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

Most common form of dementia. Disease of the brain Brain cells die & are not replaced Causes issues with memory, thinking &

behavior Symptoms worsen over time No cure Little is known about cause

HISTORY 1889 - Jane Addams

Hull House

Late 1800s, early 1900s – Mary Richmond

Charity Organization Society (COS)

1930s - Social work took interest in issues of adult learning

1965 – Older Americans Act

HISTORY CONTINUED President Nixon signed Research on Aging Act

of 1974 Dr. Robert Butler – National Institute on Aging

Alzheimer’s disease Public attention – 1980s

Rita HayworthRonald Reagan

November – National Alzheimer’s month Federal Funding increased – 1975 ~ 1985

$19 million to $70 million

EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUAL STAGE 1:

- Normal aging - No impairment STAGE 2:

- Very mild mental decline- Forget words - Same stories/same questions

STAGE 3:- Noticeable mental decline- Emotional- Lost in past life, places & roles

EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUAL…

STAGE 4:- Moderate cognitive/mental decline- Forgetfulness of events & personal history- Difficulty with finances- Moody or withdrawn

STAGE 5:- Need help with day-to-day activities- Confused- Unable to recall

EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUAL…

STAGE 6:- Severe cognitive decline- Extensive help with daily activities- Change in sleep patterns- Need help going to the bathroom - Trouble with bladder control - Major personality changes- Wander

EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUAL STAGE 7:

- Very severe cognitive decline- Lose ability to:

- Respond to environment - Carry on conversation - Control movement - Smile

- Still may use words or phrases

EFFECTS ON FAMILY SYSTEM/CAREGIVER

Role changes Denial More responsibility/Time consuming Stressful/frustration Helpless Grief Financial Struggles Withdraw from family, friends &

activities Mental & physical health problems

SOCIAL, POLITICAL & CULTURAL INFLUENCES

People are living longer

Baby boomers begin arriving at age 65 within the next decade

Estimated by year 2030 the number of older adults with major psychiatric disorders will surpass most other age units

Workforce

SOCIAL, POLITICAL & CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Demographics

Less Nuclear family units

Extended family not in the community

Cost of 24 hour care

LAWS & POLICIES Power of Attorney

document specific person decision making (financial)

Power of Attorney for health care health care agent health care decisions

Guardianshipappointed by courtpatient is legally incapacitated take up to a month

EVALUATE SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Alzheimer’s support groups Adult Day Services 24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900 Online care training and certification Local workshops and trainings Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org

SOCIAL WORK ETHICS, VALUES, ROLES & SKILLS

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics – Values:

Service Social Justice Dignity & worth of a person

Educators, counselors, advocates, researchers Geriatric setting: engage in multiple working relationships Link clients to services

FIELD PRACTICE CASE: Abigail, female - age 71 Stroke in 2009 Daughter is caregiver

Relation to Alzheimer’s - Symptoms similar to later stages in Alzheimer’s - Trouble with communication & understanding

environment- Dependent on her caregiver- Bladder control- Living past events- Confused

NEXT STEPS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

Number of social work practioners & students who prefer to work with the elderly population is minimal

Few social workers have been exposed to Alzheimer’s population

Educate upcoming social workers! Advocate for funding & spread awareness! Become familiar with local resources Volunteer

SOURCESBarker, R.L. (2003). The social work dictionary (5th ed.). Barltimore, MD: Port City Press. Cole, L., Griffin, K., & Ruiz, B. (2008). A comprehensive approach to working with families ofalzheimer’s patients. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 9:2, 27-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J083V09N02_04Epple, D.M. (2002). Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. Clinical Social Work Journal,Vol. 30, No. 1, 96-110. Judge, K.S., Bass, D.M., Snow, A.L., Wilson, N.L., Morgan, R., Looman, W.J., McCarthy, C., &Kunik, Mark, E. (2011). Partners in dementia care: a care coordination intervention forindividuals with dementia and their family caregiver’s. Piercy, K.W. (Ed.). PracticeConcepts and Policy Analysis, Vol 51, 261-272. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq097 http://www.alz.org/

SOURCESKane, M.N. (2004). Predictors for future work with elders. Journal of Gerontological SocialWork, 42:3-4, 19-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J083v42n03_03Kaplan, D.B., Anderson, T.C. (2013). The transformative potential of social work’s evolvingpractice in dementia care. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 56:2, 164-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/061634372.2012.753652 Katz, S. Alzheimer’s disease/dementia – how social workers help: relationship and emotionalchanges for family members of alzheimer’s patients. Retrieved fromhttp://www.helpstartshere.org/seniors-and-aging/alzheimers-diseasedementia-how-socialworkers-help-relationship-and-emotional-changes-for-family-members-of-alzheimerspatients.html