Alzheimer Tanısı Konulan Yaşlıların Ailelerinin Sosyal Hizmet Gereksinimleri

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim of learning about the difficulties that elderly care providers with Alzheimer's disease have experienced throughout the disease process and by raising awareness of what social work needs they need. The survey was conducted in Ankara between June 2017 and December 2019. In this research which is designed with qualitative design, participant snowball was reached by sampling method. In this study, 18 female and 2 male subjects were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire and the collected data were analyzed with the MAXQDA 18 Qualitative Data Analysis Program. At the end of the study, while Alzheimer's patients were giving care, it was seen that the biggest difficulties that families experienced were about getting the basic care needs of the patients and managing the illness and the patient. These difficulties are accompanied by economic difficulties. It has also been achieved that the families have many social work needs. These requirements have emerged in the form of alternative institutional needs (day care centers), caregiver support through social services to family members, psychosocial support to families, professional platforms to learn about the disease, Alzheimer's hospitals and sickness costs. Several solutions for these problems at the micro, mezzo and macro level have been presented at the end of the research and it can be said that the level of awareness of Alzheimer's disease should be increased in order to pass on these suggestions.