I will pay for the following essay Health Science: Family Health. The essay is to be 8 pages with three to five sources, with in-text citations and a reference page.Download file to see previous pages

I will pay for the following essay Health Science: Family Health. The essay is to be 8 pages with three to five sources, with in-text citations and a reference page.

In the United States, many families experience at one time or another the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease as about 100,000 Americans die of AD reportedly each year and about 4 million show some signs of the disease. McConnel (1990) reported that about seventy to eighty percent suffering from AD are being cared for in their homes by immediate family members like spouse adult children or both.

In consideration of the immediate family as the most probable caregiver for an AD patient, it is very likely that an elderly husband or wife between 50 to 90 years old or up to a capable old age may be the closest caregiver to an AD patient. Likewise, it is also probable that adult siblings, either married or not, or with family care for an elderly parent with AD, or both as provided for by the study conducted by McConnel (1990).

Risk factors and clinical features must be well-established among caregiving family members. Since having a parent or a sibling with AD increases risk by up to three and a half times, it is also established that more AD patients in the family increases chance of developing the disease.

Memory loss which progresses slowly from seemingly simple forgetfulness or fluctuating memory loss to a more pervasive loss of short term memory is often the indication of AD. Alzheimer's begins to damage the brain years before the symptoms occur although reason is still unclear among researchers. Age is the established biggest risk factor, lifestyle such as lack of exercise, diet and socialization were also suggested adding up to deterioration of body systems that contribute to the development of AD.

Diagnosis is primary done with clinical observation as well as series of tests of memory and intellectual functioning over a period of weeks or months. This is to rule out alternative diagnoses. As of the research period, no medical tests are available to diagnose AD pre-mortem (Wikipedia, 2006).

Interview with family, close relations and friends also account for the establishment of the presence of the disease, as well as establishment of the indicatory symptoms since patient is already suspect for consistency.

Psychological Aspect of Family Caring for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Fischer et al (1995) said that "Managing an older person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a community setting places considerable physical and psychological burdens on the primary caregiver and other family members."

Fischer et al (1995) acknowledged that a single caregiver may deliver most patient care, spouse, adult offspring, offspring spouses, and other family members such as grandchildren, sibling are also involved in sharing care, emotional and financial support, or participating in various forms of family-based decision making.

The report also added that multigeneration families affects day-to day care of frail older persons while Zarit et al (1980) also found out that familial emotional support has been shown to moderate the stresses of caregiving in some families.

And Mortimer (1990) showed that a family's inability to accept the psychological loss of an ill older person, prevented the family from coping effectively with the chronic stresses of care.