PSYC33H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7.1: Family Caregivers, Psychological Stress, Social Isolation
Document Summary
Purpose: to review the literature to find practical information for clinicians to assist family members of patients with mild cognitive impairment (pwmci) to cope, manage stress, prepare for the future, maximize pwmci"s independence, while maintaining their own physical/mental health. Mci is a syndrome of cognitive decline that is greater than expected for an individual"s age and education; it interferes with function, but lacking symptoms for the diagnosis for alzheimers disease (ad) Mci is a risk factor for the developing of ad, increases chances. This outcome is uncertain and produces stress for family members. Family member in mci rather than caregiver - patient requires less assistance and supervision than ad. Majority of the literature is on caregivers of ad patients; but we utilize these strategies for mci family members. Pwmci lack awareness of deficits, sometimes engage in dangerous tasks (ex: driving) that burden family members, important for family members to understand this level of awareness.
