المشكلات السلوكية لمرضى الزهايمر و علاقتها باحتياجات مقدمي الرعاية الأسرية لأنماط المساندة الاجتماعية

Abstract EN

Alzheimer's disease is among the most serious, life-threatening health problems for both older persons and those around them.

Health condition and behavioral problems of Alzheimer's patient put pressure on family caregivers urging their need for social support.

Study aims to identify behavioral problems of Alzheimer's patients; explore official and unofficial social support sources; determine social support forms mostly needed by family caregivers; identify the correlation between Alzheimer's patient's behavioral problems and social support to family caregivers.

Study is a descriptive one, based on a comprehensive social survey of Alzheimer's patients' families.

The following are the key findings: Alzheimer's patients suffer from some behavioral problems: repeating words; clinging to personal belongings, stubbornness, hyperactivity, refusal to go to doctor, phobias and refusal to take medications.

According to findings, unofficial social support sources include: children, grandchildren, brothers, spouses and daughters- in law.

Official sources include: domestic medicine, social security, charities and day care.

Forms of support mostly needed by family caregivers are: social support followed by information -related support, emotional support, recognition and action -related support.

Findings have shown a positive statistically significant correlation between Alzheimer's patients' behavioral problems and family caregivers' need for social support.

Study findings will increase social workers and elderly care institutions interest in providing support to family caregivers so that behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer's patients can be alleviated.