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Stages of caregiving

University of South Florida, Suncoast Gerontology Center, Tampa, Florida

Scales delineating the stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been published by a number of authors. These scales have been found to be extremely useful in clinical practice as well as in research on Alzheimer patients. But the care of an Alzheimer patient generally involves not only the identified patient but also a primary caregiver. Based on my work with Alzheimer patients and their families, I have recognized and described the stages of caregiving as experienced by caregivers. They are as follows:

Stage 1: Coping with the initial impact of being told the diagnosis.

Stage 2: To be or not to be...a caregiver?

Stage 3: At-home caregiving—the long journey.

Stage 4: Considering institutional placement.

Stage 5: Caregiving during residential or institutional placement.

Stage 6: Death of the patient—grief and relief. Stage 7: Resuming life—healing and renewal.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 14, No. 2, 125-127 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/153331759901400207


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