By ANGELA GREGORY health reporter
Caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer's have a difficult and round-the-clock job, says the New Zealand Alzheimer's Society.
Studies in Britain had shown that nearly half the caregivers had some kind of mental health problem themselves, said national director Karen Hyland.
"It is a 24 hour, seven days a week, 365 days a year disease ... and it is not an isolated disease. It affects all the people around them."
She said in New Zealand more than 8000 patients were in nursing homes because of severe dementia.
At least 75 per cent, or 15,000, of those with middle to moderate dementia were expected to need nursing home care for the last three years of their life.
Research had shown 71 per cent of people living in the community with dementia used some form of support service, mainly home nursing care.
Karen Hyland said the Thames' case was tragic and involved judgments about quality of life.
She said it was important to support caregivers in such situations.
Ministry of Health spokesman Lester Mundell accepted there were shortfalls in the support available to caregivers. But Government expenditure was increasing to cater for more home and carer support.
Mr Mundell said the care of an Alzheimer's sufferer was a difficult task for a spouse or partner.
Signals and effects
* Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50-70 per cent of dementia cases.
* It causes the gradual, irreversible loss of brain cells.
* Onset is gradual and progressive.
* Alzheimer's affects about 5 per cent of people aged 75 to 84.
* Women are 10 per cent more likely to get the disease.
* In the early stages, personality changes such as irritability, anxiety or depression are common.
* Later symptoms may include sleep disturbances, delusions, hallucinations, pacing, emotional distress and uncharacteristic cursing or threatening language.
* Caregivers may become frightened, upset or exhausted.
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