Articles
Video Respite gives caregivers a break
August 10, 2000
News Archive: June 30, 1999
By Dr.Max Gomez
New York, June 29 - Imagine a job that requires you to take care of someone who is confused, angry, depressed and insane. This job takes 24 hours a day, and you don't earn a salary. Millions of Americans have such a job – caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. It's difficult to find something to help both the patient and the caregiver. Video therapy may be just the tool.
Dan Miller, 69, sleepwalks through his days and nights. He repeats himself, has fits of anger and forgets everyone he meets.
Miller is one of 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Ann Miller is one of the estimated 7 million Americans caring for a loved one. But now when her nerves snap, she can turn on a video.
To the Alzheimer's patient, this isn't television, it's a friendly chat. A chance to sing songs, and talk about childhood memories – the only memories these people have left.
"They feel like they're one on one with this person and they're in the room with them," said Dr. Dale Lund, a gerontologist.
Dr. Lund helped develop the Video Respite Program, which occupies patients while caregivers take a short break.
"Caregiving can consume the caregiver totally. And frequently, the caregivers aren't even aware of the deterioration that's occurring in their lives," Dr. Lund said.
It's not uncommon for caregivers to completely give up careers, marriages and social life. Alzheimer's is one disease that destroys not just one life, but two and often more.
People like Ann Miller need to seek out adult day services, enlist friends and neighbors, or even take a 15-minute break. Although Video Respite was created for caregivers, studies have found that it helps Alzheimer's patients, too. It calms them down and may even get them talking.
To learn more about the Video Respite Program, call 800-249-5600, or write to P.O. Box 17809, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117-0809.
