Knowledge and caregivers’ intervention in Alzheimer’s disease: a literature review

Objective:

To analyze systematically the knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the strategies used by the caregiver to act on the symptoms presented by the elderly with AD.

Methods:

Search of articles at PubMed, MedLine, Lilacs and SciELO, using the following keywords and free terms to search strategy, according to their definitions in DeCS and MeSH: “cuidadores” or “educação em saúde” or “treinamento” or “cuidadores de idosos” and “doença de Alzheimer”; “elderly caregiving” or “training” or “health education” or “caregivers” and “Alzheimer disease”; “cuidadores de personas mayores” or “formación” or “educación en salud” or “cuidadores” and “enfermedad de Alzheimer”.

Results:

We found 12 articles to analyze and reading in full. The articles were classified into three categories: 1) Knowledge about the cognitive and functional decline of Alzheimer’s disease; 2) Knowledge about the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); 3) Knowledge about language impairment. In most studies, it was found that the orientation about the disease and its evolution can interfere with how the caregiver plans and executes the actions of care.

Conclusion:

It is extremely necessary to create opportunities for family caregivers and professionals know the disease to understand the patient and the possibilities for action (safe and effective) with him. It is possible through implementing psychoeducational programs that provide information and practical guidance to improve the care provided by caregivers of patients with AD.

Caregivers; elderly; Alzheimer’s disease; health education; standard of care