Successful Support Groups for African American Caregivers

Abstract

Culturally and linguistically appropriate for a diverse community. Alzheimer's discase presents special challenges for caregivers. The leading cause of dementia, die disease results in gradual memory loss, decline in one's ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss of language skills, impairment of judgment, and personality changes. Ultimately, the loss of brain cells leads to the failure of other bodily systems, causing death. There is no cure, and only about half of the people taking medications to slow the progression of the disease show modest and temporary improvement in memory and thinking skills (Alzheimer's Association of America, 2002a, b). African American families face all of these challenges but at a greater rate than the rest of the population; African Americans are four times as likely to develop Alzheimer's as their Caucasian counterparts, for example. The development of die disease has been linked to the APOE-e4 gene in all people, but African Americans are four times as likely to develop Alzheimer's even without this genetic link. Lifestyle differences and dietary habits may play a part in the high incidence of the disease among African Americans (Tang et al., 1998). Clearly, additional research is critical to unraveling the mystery of the relationship between the high incidence of Alzheimerr's disease and African Americans. While scientists are searching for answers, the Alzheimer's Association continues to fulfill its mission to provide outreach to the African American community and other ethnic groups. The association has created and implemented culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services for a diverse constituency. The Association contends that along with timely and appropriate medical care, education and support arc key to helping families to cope with dementia. A combination of quality medical care and comprehensive social supports are considered to be the best approach to Alzheimer's disease at this time. The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is headquartered in Philadelphia. The chapter serves Southeast Pennsylvania, South New Jersey, and Delaware, including a large number of African Americans. It offers a constellation of programs and services to help individuals with dementia and their families. Programs and services include a twenty-four-hour contact center-helpline service, a safe return program for wanderers, a family caregiver training series, and support groups. Family caregiver support groups arc the focus of this article. Support groups offer caregivers the opportunity to be educated about Alzheimer's and changes that will occur as result of the disease. Caregivers can begin to develop a sense of control over their lives as they begin to understand what to expect during the course of the disease and the changes that will affect the person with Alzheimer's disease and members of the family. A support group can be the lifeline for caregivers, providing the freedom to express their emotions without guilt and the opportunity to receive positive reinforcement from their peers. PARTICULAR NEEDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CAREGIVERS The Delaware Valley Chapter has over time developed a number of support groups to meet the particular needs of African Americans. In order to do this, the chapter first conducts a community needs assessment. From the needs assessment, common themes emerge. First, a number of barriers exist that discourage African American participation in support groups. The barriers include lack of transportation to meetings, limited knowledge about the benefits of support groups, job demands, and family responsibilities. Also, differences in the ways African Americans often perceive wellness and health, compared to the majority population, can make them less willing to participate in support groups. For example, African American caregivers more often tend to see a loved one's memory deficit as part of the normal aging process. …