草莓污视频导航

May 26, 2023

Caregivers often forgotten as member of care team for those with dementia

草莓污视频导航 researcher Zahinoor Ismail teams up with Gordie Howe CARES to support caregivers and learn from them
草莓污视频导航 researcher studying stress of being a caregiver for someone with dementia.
草莓污视频导航 researcher Zahinoor Ismail studies stress of being a caregiver for someone with dementia. Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航

Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, MD, wants to learn more about the mental and physical load caregivers experience as they look after someone with dementia. As a clinician and researcher, Ismail says caregivers play a central role with little to no support or recognition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 essential when providing dementia clinical care that you speak to caregivers. They are fundamental to the process,鈥 says Ismail, a neuropsychiatrist at and professor at the .

鈥淒ue to concerns about confidentiality, our primary care system often doesn鈥檛 involve a caregiver early on, leaving them without a voice. Then our system doesn鈥檛 support the caregiver through someone鈥檚 cognitive decline until substantial functional impairments are evident.鈥

Ismail鈥檚 concern for caregivers is shared by . The charity is supporting a national study led by Ismail aimed at understanding the challenges faced by caregivers, health-care professionals as well as family members and friends.

Gordie Howe, fondly remembered as Mr. Hockey.

Gordie Howe and his children have all provided care for a loved one with dementia.

Provided by Gordie Howe CARES

鈥淕ordie Howe, fondly known as Mr. Hockey, was the caregiver for his wife, Colleen, as she experienced cognitive decline. Later he developed dementia and relied on help from his children,鈥 says Jay Haralson, board chair, Gordie Howe CARES. 鈥淭he family understands the struggles and hopes to see more strategies and mechanisms to support caregivers through the journey.鈥

Ismail has developed two scales to measure levels of stress, one for informal caregivers, like family members or friends, and one for formal or paid caregivers, like nurses, physicians, care aids and companions.

"When I hear when someone hits a home care worker, who then won鈥檛 come back, and now the family member can鈥檛 go to work, I often wonder, what is it like for them, how can we help them?鈥 says Ismail. 鈥淭here are so many complex pieces. We need a better understanding of what happens over time for caregivers, both in terms of risk and resilience, so we can inform system change.鈥

The caregivers鈥 study is part of a larger study on brain aging called . Participants sign on in pairs. There are brain training games, and annual assessments of cognition, function, behaviour, quality of life, diet, and lifestyle. Ismail says the platform will allow us to boost our understanding of brain aging and maximize research on dementia prevention and treatment. Caregivers would register as CAN-PROTECT participants and also identify as caregivers to complete the additional questionnaires, which will help better understand their experience.

The caregivers鈥 study is part of a larger study on brain aging called CAN-PROTECT.

The caregivers鈥 study is part of a larger study on brain aging called CAN-PROTECT.

Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航

Dementia can be treated, but not cured. As cognition and function decline for the person, responsibility increases for the caregiver.

鈥淎t first, caregiving may include helping with finances, picking up groceries, and taking a person to appointments,鈥 says Ismail. 鈥淩esponsibilities increase as time goes on, feeding and toileting the person. Adding to that there can be the increasing challenge of being asked the same question multiple times or dealing with lost items, difficulties relaying instructions, or coping with behavioural or personality changes.鈥

Ismail is also a scientific adviser for Gordie Howe CARES. The group developed , an online engagement tool and community platform for caregivers to share experiences and ask questions.

CAN-PROTECT is open to any Canadians 40 years of age or older. .

Brain and Mental Health Strategy (BMH)

Led by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the 草莓污视频导航, the BMH Strategy explores an improved understanding of the brain and nervous system and new treatments for neurological and mental health disorders, aimed at improving quality of life and patient care. . 

Zahinoor Ismail is a professor in the departments of Psychiatry, Clinical Neurosciences, Community Health Sciences, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). He is a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education and the O鈥橞rien Institute for Public Health at the CSM.

 


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