The long-term studies of the cholinesterase inhibitors, Aricept (donepezil), Razadyne (galantamine) and Exelon (rivastigmine), support their ability to delay Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression during the dementia stage by 1, 1.5, and 2.5 years respectively, which underscores the importance of early detection to optimize quality of life. Cholinesterase inhibitors reduce caregiving burden by de...

The classical notions of 'virtue' and 'leisure' offer excellent insights into the essentially moral nature of medical practice. This is especially evident in the understanding that professional caregiving has the potential to enhance the moral character as well as the moral awareness of the practitioner. Reflective awareness of the moral nature of the caregiving process can also contribute to c...

Most deaths are preceded by chronic illness and disability and the provision of support by family caregivers. The purpose of this article is to describe how the caregiving experience affects bereavement, with an emphasis on the relationship between challenging caregiving situations and difficult grieving processes - often referred to as `complicated grief'. The article starts with a brief summa...

The typical image of caregiving and the elderly is one of an older person who is ill or infirm receiving care from a younger person. In many instances this image is correct. However, older women and men are not only the recipients of care; in many cases they are caregivers themselves. Another assumption about caregiving is that the person giving the care is a woman. Again, this is generally tru...

Family caregiving is an area that has received extensive attention in the professional and public domains. The graying ofAmerica, the looming aging and retirement of the baby-boomers, increased pressures to care for the chronically ill in their homes, and changes in health care service reimbursement systems all contribute to the generalized concerns regarding caregiving. Nursing constitutes the...

This study explores the current market value of the care provided by unpaid family members and friends to ill and disabled adults. Using large, national data sets we estimate that the national economic value of informal caregiving was $196 billion in 1997. This figure dwarfs national spending for formal home health care ($32 billion) and nursing home care ($83 billion). Estimates for five state...

The emotional strain associated with caregiving as experienced by both black (n = 117) and white (n = 464) daughter caregivers was examined from a role theory perspective. Black daughters reported less role strain overall. Conflict between caregiving duties and the caregivers' personal and social life was a predictor for both groups. For black women the unique predictors were: poor perceived he...

An analysis of 60 ethnographic interviews with family caregivers for frail community-based elderly persons has suggested that ethical dilemmas are an important organizing framework for family caregiving. The present paper explores this conjecture as it relates to the practice of occupational therapy with older clients and their families. Major themes of ethical dilemmas in family caregiving, as...