Alzheimer’s Disease

With the growing number of the elderly in society and with the rapid advancement in medical knowledge and technology, we are recognizing an increasing number of individuals who suffer from a progressive impairment of intellectual function first discovered at the turn of the century by Alois Alzheimer, a German physician. Alzheimer’s disease usually strikes those who are elderly; its cause and cure are unknown. Caring for victims of Alzheimer’s disease, either by family and friends or by nursing home and health institution staff; is a formidable task. Even though patients in the advanced stages of the disease may be disturbed, suspicious, and ultimately become helpless, caregivers should be aware of the patients’ psychological and spiritual needs. This paper offers some suggestions, based on clinical observations and illumined by the Bahá’í teachings, for meeting those needs.