Intervention Techniques

Abstract

The point has been stressed in this book that dementia exerts its effects on both patient and family. The consequences are not equally destructive, because the patient gradually but certainly deteriorates mentally and becomes increasingly dependent, whereas family finds increasing devastation in loss of personal liberty, financial credibility, emotional resourcefulness, and physical stamina. The specifics of the changes are not well documented or understood for either party. General trends and patterns have been proposed and, to a degree, demonstrated in the literature. The result is an awareness among professionals that severe problems exist at all times in the progression of the dementia at the same time that precision is lacking on several dimensions. It is apparent that individuals in either category suffer, and it is understandable that those dedicated to human service want to ameliorate the suffering as much as possible. For this reason, there have been attempts to develop interventions—not to change the circumstances of disease and consequence, which presently is felt to be impossible, but to assist the parties to adapt to and manage the realities of day to day problems.