SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AND CARE GIVER FACILITIES OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO KOCAELI UNIVERSITY, MEDICAL SCHOOL, DEMENTIA OUTPATIENT

摘要

Objectives: We report sociodemographic findings, care giver features and traditional factors effecting Alzheimer's disease patients admitted to Kocaeli University School of Medicine, dementia outpatient during one year period. Patients and Methods: Twenty-four patients clinically diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease using NINCDS/ADRDA criteria were attended to the study. We set up a questionnaire to assess sociodemographic properties of Alzheimer's disease patients. Questionnaire included personal information, (ii) medical and lifestyle factors (iii) activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living tests and (iv) care giver properties. Results: Findings about sex and smoking were in opposite direction with similar across studies. All the care givers were relatives of patients. None of them was living in a national social service. Conclusion: In Turkey, it is a kind of tradition giving care to their elderly relatives. In future countries may prefer the care giving to these patients in their social environment to avoid economic burden as in Turkey.