İnvestigation of family members taking care of alzheimer's patients within the framework of empowerment approach : Diyarbakir province example

Old age is a period when the risk of developing chronic diseases increases. In this period, immunity weakens and chronic diseases follow each other like the rings of a chain. Alzheimer's disease is seen in old age and unlike most chronic diseases, this disease does not allow the elderly to live alone. There are two options for the care of the Alzheimer's patient. The first of these options is institutional maintenance and this option is not preferred in our society. The second option is to have the elderly cared for by family members. Taking care of family members is of great importance both in terms of creating less financial burden on the state and in terms of keeping the elderly from the environment that they are accustomed to. During the process of care for Alzheimer's patients, family members encounter various mental, social, physical and economic problems due to the heavy burden of care, and these problems cause people to lose their social functionality and become weak. The main purpose of this study is to determine how social work can produce solutions within the framework of empowerment approach to situations and events that individuals who care for the elderly with Alzheimer's disease face and feel inadequate to cope with during the care process. Diyarbakır was taken as the sample in the study. The data of the study were obtained using quantitative research methods. Within the scope of the research, 20 adult female interviewers were interviewed. According to the data obtained as a result of the study, individuals with Alzheimer's disease are mostly cared for by female members of the family, social support is not at the desired level during the care process, and individuals feel helpless, anxious, weak and exhausted during the care process. It was concluded that caregivers during the care process are unaware of their power and resources, their coping mechanisms have weakened, they lost their social functionality and needed to be strengthened.