"Alzheimer's Disease is the fourth leading contributing cause of death among the elderly. Approximately 4.5 million Americans have this disease. Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is one of the most common and feared diseases affecting the elderly." Losing a Million Minds: Confronting the Tragedy of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment; U.S. Government Printing Office, 1987; p. 14. It is a progressive and irreversible brain disease that destroys mental and physical functions in human beings, regularly leads to death and creates emotional and a financial catastrophe for many American families every year. Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. A family's decision on how to care for the AD sufferer is very important. Each patient's level of AD can determine how a family decides to care for the individual. Living at home or in an assisted living environment can be challenging either way. Each family will have a different choice to make on how their family member will spend the rest of their life.
             Alzheimer's disease destroys the neurons and communication pathways in the brain. How and why the neurons die is still not known. Scientists believe that abnormal cell structures cause cell malfunction. Amyloid plaques, granulovacuoles, and neurofibrillary tangles are all found in AD patients and are believed to cause Alzheimer's disease. Managing AD involves two considerations, first allowing a patient to be as independent as possible, maintaining their quality of life and second providing family support. By understanding the general stages of AD, patients and their families can plan for the future.
             The early signs are continual forgetfulness and difficulty recalling new names and...