الصعوبات التي تواجه القائمين برعاية مريض الزهايمر في المجتمع السعودي : دراسة ميدانية في مدينة جدة

Abstract EN

Alzheimer’s disease is protracted mental deterioration leading to permanent functional disability that occurs mostly in the elderly.

The disease culminates in the patient being unable to complete the simplest personal care and daily activities and thus are in constant need of care and wholly dependent on the caregivers.

As such, Alzheimer›s impacts caregivers as much as it does the patients.

Caregivers are constantly under stress, psychological and social pressures.

In this study, a purposeful sample was chosen of 12 caregivers were chosen to explore the difficulties and challenges they face in the context of Saudi Arabia.

This study, which employed qualitative research methods, revealed that there are misconceptions about the disease, lack of awareness of governmental and non-governmental services for patients, and that the learning process for a caregiver is ongoing.

Finally, this study also explores the impact on the caregivers, including the social, emotional, psychological, and economic challenges.

Keywords: Alzheimer›s disease, caregiver, Saudi society, difficulties, challenges.