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MA/PhD Theses Abstracts of Current Students & Alumni |
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Thompson, Trina K. 2001. Ethnographic Description of the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative Program.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease and its related dementias are increasing in incidence in the United States. Costs associated with Alzheimer’s disease are high, not only in the economic sense but also in the physical and emotional impact on family caregivers. This study originated from an applied anthropology internship with the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, an agency designed to provide respite services to family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). An ambitious agenda was prepared and an anthropological method of ethnographic description was applied to observe and evaluate the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI) program. Findings from the study demonstrated that family caregivers were satisfied with services they received. Many indicated that without in-home respite care, their family members with Alzheimer’s would have to be put into a nursing facility because they simply could not handle the strain of caregiving with no repose. It was further found that family caregivers caring for persons with ADRD who are not sleeping through the night would like third shift or overnight in-home respite, and that caregivers who do not currently have access to caregiver support groups, training or other workshops would like these services to be offered. It was found that adult day care and in-home respite workers are a largely aged workforce and supervisors are concerned about replacing these older workers when they leave. Another finding was that family caregivers would like off-hours respite care, such as weekend in-home respite and/or adult day care services, and that many workers are willing to work alternating weekends to provide care. This study provided me with practical experience in applying anthropology. I was given ample opportunity for learning about the provision of services to elders from administrators, program managers, and local-level case managers. This study may in turn provide the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging with a reference on the ADI. Further, the recommendations may assist the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging in enhancing service delivery to its five-county region.
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