Evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes, and perception of caregivers of elderly individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at selected hospitals in Delhi

Background: Neurons in the cerebral cortex and some subcortical areas gradually and selectively degenerate in Alzheimer's disease, a chronic neurological condition. It has no known cure and is the primary cause of impairment in the elderly. A little over half of those with Alzheimer's get help from friends and family at home. Family members bear a large portion of the responsibility for caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Aim: The objective of this research was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of caregivers for elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease at selected hospitals in Delhi. Material and Methods: This study was descriptive in nature and involved 30 caregivers of elderly individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The researcher created a questionnaire that consisted of four sections for data collection. Section A focused on the demographic characteristics of the participants. Section B examined the knowledge of caregivers regarding elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Section C evaluates the attitudes of caregivers towards elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease using a rating scale. Section D assessed the practices of caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The research indicated that 53.3% of participants possessed a strong understanding, while 33.3% demonstrated an average level of knowledge, and merely 413.4% exhibited below-average knowledge. A significant number of caregivers displayed a negative attitude towards client care, with only 50% exhibiting positive attitudes. The majority of caregivers were observed to engage in poor practices, with just 10% adhering to good practices. Conclusion: There is a recognized necessity for the education and support of caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The research indicated that while caregivers possessed a solid understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, most expressed feelings of stress related to their caregiving responsibilities, and a significant number were observed to engage in inadequate practices. Therefore, it is essential to provide caregivers with education regarding the characteristics of the disease and its progression.