Counseling Benefits More Than Caregiver
Treatment helps Alzheimer's patients stay at home longer

(HealthDay News) -- Providing counseling to the people caring for those with Alzheimer's not only benefits the caregiver, but apparently helps the patient, too.

Researchers found that counseling programs boosted the physical health of caregivers, which in turn delayed the transfer of Alzheimer's patients to nursing homes by up to 18 months, according to a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry .

"Preserving the health of spouse caregivers through counseling and support also benefits the person with Alzheimer's disease, as caregivers who are in poor health are more likely to have difficulty providing good care," Dr. Mary Mittelman, a research associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine and one of the study authors, said in a prepared statement.

Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's frequently experience stress, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Symptoms that someone may be experiencing stress include denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, irritability, trouble concentrating and health problems.

Mittelman's study included just over 400 married couples who had been followed for 20 years at the time of her study. In each couple, one spouse had Alzheimer's and the other was the caregiver.

Each couple was randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group was given enhanced counseling and support, including six sessions of individual and family counseling, support groups and telephone counseling as needed. The other group received standard care and no formal counseling sessions. Standard care meant that they received information or help if they asked for it, but it was not offered.

The study found that the physical health of caregivers in the counseling group had improved, and they had less depression than the others. Additionally, their spouses averaged an additional 18 months more at home before they needed to be moved to a long-term care facility.

The improvement in health began about four months after the study started and lasted more than a year, according to the researchers.

"Individualized counseling programs that improve social support for caregivers can have many indirect benefits, including sustaining their physical health," Mittelman said.

For caregivers, the Alzheimer's Association recommends:

• Taking time for themselves. That means caregivers should watch their diets, get plenty of exercise and make dates to spend time away from their spouse. Most communities have adult day care services that can free up a caregiver for a lunch date with friends.
• Learning as much as possible about Alzheimer's, including what to expect at each stage of the disease. Knowing that certain behaviors are expected may help a caregiver better cope with them.
• Planning ahead for the changes that are destined to occur. Getting legal and financial matters taken care of early in the disease process might ease some of the stress later.

On the Web

For more advice for Alzheimer's caregivers, visit the National Institute on Aging online.

SOURCES: HealthDay News ; New York University Medical Center , news release, Sept. 5, 2007; Sept. 2007, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ; Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org)
Author: Serena Gordon
Publication Date: Sept. 30, 2008
Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.