The difference of the quality of life between formal/professional and informal/nonprofessional caregivers to patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with Alzheimer display a combination of cognitive, behavioral and functional symptoms. These symptoms are individual and depends on the disease from the disease stage. Managing these symptoms imposes significant burden on both patients and caregivers. Aim of the study: The primary aim of this study is to explore the difference of the quality of life between formal/professional and informal/non-professional caregivers to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Methodology: A review study of literature of research and review studies related to quality of life, depression, burden inventory of formal/professional and informal/nonprofessional caregivers to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Results: The quality of life of formal/professional caregivers is mainly affected by the physical fatigue that they feel and the decreasing of cognitive and functional status that patients with Alzheimer’s disease display while, informal/non-professional caregivers affected by the sentimental and economic burden that they accept. Conclusions: Identifying all the variables that affect negatively the quality of life, especially for the informal/ non-professional caregivers, can be obtain all the appropriate measures for minimize the burden, in order to improve caregiver’s quality of life and the quality of care that patients with Alzheimer’s disease receive as well