preview

Dementi A Progressive Mental Disorder

Decent Essays

In Canada, there are approximately 120,000 people that have been diagnosed with dementia or a related condition. Dementia is a progressive mental disorder characterized as the deterioration of intelligence and personality (Myers, 2009). By 2031 the number of people living with dementia will drastically increase to 750,000 due to the aging baby boomers population (Statistics Canada, 2013; Black, et al., 2010). People living with dementia require assistance with activities of daily living (ADL); this assistance is often performed by a family member acting as a caregiver (Black, et al., 2010). A caregiver is a person who contributes to another person 's social, medical, environmental and economic resources (Myers, 2009). Although family …show more content…

As the number of people with dementia grows, so will the number of caregivers, this will lead to a major impact on the labor force, health insurance, pension plans and will increase the demand for health care services. In order to offer support to caregivers of dementia patients, it is essential to understand their perspectives. Different cultures and ethnicities have different values and beliefs surrounding how to care for family members. For instance, Chinese culture has a word "xiao" that is translated into responsibility and affection. Chinese culture sees a type of obligation towards family and caring relationships (Chan & O’Connor, 2014; Lai, 2010). Traditional Chinese families form strong commitments and ties to each member. These bonds play a vital role if a family member requires a caregiver, conversely, they may become a barrier because families might be discouraged from receiving external support, especially if they are new immigrants or unfamiliar with the environmental surroundings (Chan & O’Connor, 2014).
Literature Review There are many articles regarding caregiver depression, stress and burnout. According to Black et al. (2010), the surveys performed in their study show caregivers of people with dementia have increased reports of fatigue, helplessness, stress and onset of depression symptoms. This study sheds light on the financial burden placed upon caregivers; they can spend as much as one thousand dollars a month for prescriptions

Get Access