99th Anniversary of Alois Alzheimer Identifying Dreaded Disease

Aging expert says treatment for individuals improving caregivers lack adequate counseling.

Voorhees, N.J. (PRWEB) June 2, 2006 -- Alois Alzheimer, a German psychologist and pathologist, first identified the symptoms of the disease that bears his name in a scientific journal 99 years ago.

Since then, medical advances have contributed greatly to slowing the course of the disease, but effective counseling for caregivers – often spouses, sons and daughters of patients – is greatly lacking, says a Voorhees, N.J., based psychologist and top aging expert, Roy D. Steinberg, who holds a doctorate in psychology.

Steinberg is leading a crusade to improve care to caregivers who face the sometimes-insurmountable task of coping with a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s. The burden is becoming increasingly important as baby boomers grow older and approach the age that Alzheimer’s strikes, usually after 65 years of age.

Empathy is the common approach to helping caregivers facing staggering problems when their loved one has the disease, says Steinberg. But he believes that it is not an effective remedy for what caregivers need.

“What works is being compassionate, but direct and realistic. Following my acronym, the D.A.R.K. system — Doing, Accepting, Recognizing and Knowing — offers a plan that allows for rational and positive decision-making during a time of emotional upheaval,” says Steinberg. “Empathy isn’t the solution, it just leaves caregivers even more frustrated.”

Steinberg understands the issue as both a geriatric psychologist and a son. He coined the dramatic title of his book-in-progress, “My Mother Has Alzheimer's And I Don’t Care,” as a way of drawing attention to the lack of understanding and counseling that caregivers face when confronted with a spouse or relative suffering from the disease.

He was devastated when his mother started showing signs of possible Alzheimer's several years ago. "Just like any other adult child, I didn't want to see my mother go through this," Steinberg says.

"It's part of a much larger philosophy,” he says. “It's based on the theory that the mother I have known is gone, so I can't care for that person any more," explains the Tel Aviv-born psychologist and graduate of New York University and the California School of Professional Psychology at Berkeley. Steinberg, who is in private practice, also did post-doctoral work at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center.

"People in my situation will ultimately treat their loved one more humanely by accepting that the original person is no longer there. I loved and respected my mother as she was then, but also as she is today," says Steinberg. "By understanding that, I can be most effective and helpful to her."

An estimated five million Alzheimer's patients are in this country, with an average of two to four caregivers typically trying to help each of them, says Steinberg. "That means a lot of people who have to learn not only what's ahead for the patient but also what's ahead for them."

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, which has more than doubled since 1980. This number will continue to grow, with estimates ranging from 11.3 million to 16 million by 2050.

In addition to the emotional and physical toll experienced by those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, there is also the financial stress associated with the disease. A survey conducted by the advocacy group, Alliance for Aging, revealed 80% of the respondents said current savings would not be sufficient to cover the cost of care if they were diagnosed with the disease, and 81% said the same about their families’ savings.

For more about Steinberg’s approach to helping Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, visit www.caregivingforcaregivers.com contact Tom Peric, toll free, at 866-922-5932.

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