Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type

The graying of America will result in triple the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease by 2050. The social service field will be challenged to recognize the symptoms, refer for differential diagnostic testing, and provide services to individuals afflicted with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer's type and to their families. This paper will review the history of Alzheimer's disease, its diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and effects on the patient and the family system. The impact of the disease on issues of caregiving, aging, and midlife will also be discussed. Two case examples will illustrate interventions in the early as well as the late stages of the disease.