Ten thousand baby boomers turn 65 every day. As our population ages at this rapid rate, the incidence of dementia and the attendant challenges for family caregivers are becoming daunting. The impact on social work that this astounding statistic suggests also cannot be over-rated. In fact, the rapidly increasing incidence of dementia is opening up an entirely new practice area for social workers.
Incurable and Progressive
Dementia is not a disease. Dementia is an umbrella term describing a range of symptoms often seen with a cognitive impairment in memory, judgment, motor skills, communication, and mood. Forgetfulness, difficulty completing once-familiar tasks, changes in decision-making skills, and the ability to communicate verbally are all eventually compromised. Dementia is both incurable and progressive which means the symptoms gradually get worse over time. This fact shifts the care burden from health care professionals to family members.
Care Givers
Family members are not prepared. Worry, stress, grief, sense of loss, mourning, helplessness, and anger all overcome the unsuspecting, well-meaning family member who takes on the role of caregiver.
- Often as verbal skills diminish, the elder suffering with dementia attempts to communicate through This can be confusing and painful for family members who do not understand their elder’s frustration.
- Long-established family rituals are breached when the dominate parent becomes subordinate. This disruption of normal relationships creates unintended conflict and offense.
- Boundaries are the limits a family sets with one another and the outside world. Dementia causes established boundaries to dissolve and both the elders and care-givers become uncomfortable with one another and other family members and friends.
- Old family issues, challenging dynamics, and pre-existing tensions can easily resurface when a family is strained by stress and illness.
Dementia can violently disrupt the unsuspecting family. Social workers are fast becoming the key support group for a growing number of families beset by the symptoms displayed with greater frequency by the aging baby boomer generation.
The Social Worker’s Role
Because there is no cure or effective therapy to relieve the symptoms of dementia, doctors and nurses are not the primary support group for those suffering with dementia, social workers are. In their role as advocates, mediators, and counselors, social workers can offer support to unsuspecting but well-meaning families who are taking on the role of caregiver. Social workers are rapidly assuming the role of:
- Care coordinator – helping to link families with doctors and to communicate between providers and additional resources like financial planning, adult day programs, and referrals to assisted living facilities and skilled nursing homes.
- Advocate – to help families understand the needs of their loved one and be sure they get the support they need.
- Educator – debunk myths surrounding dementia – learn how a family communicates and teach them new rituals – teach the family how to be open and flexible to new experiences and relationships – learn who plays what role in each family and how this keeps the family functioning in order to determine interventions that can best assist the family and determine the course of care.
- Shoulder – to cry on. Family members become frightened and frustrated when dealing with dementia symptoms in elders who were heretofore the family’s main support.
- Listening ear – allows the caregiver to vent and suggests possible coping strategies.
Supporting families dealing with dementia is a new and growing field for social workers. Many are eager to help and are even returning to school for further training. Once again, congratulations to the social work profession for taking on our most demanding social issues. Where would we be without you?
