The Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients’ Observed Illness Course and Experience in Ghana and Care Lessons to Be Learnt: A Mental Health Professional’s Perspective

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and associated dementia patient numbers continue to increase globally with associated economic costs to healthcare systems. Of note is the increase in numbers in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, which already face challenges with their health budgets from communicable and non-communicable diseases. Ghana, an SSA country, faces the problem of healthcare budgetary difficulties and the additional impact of AD as a consequence of increasing population strata of old aged persons (OAPs) due to the demographic transition effect. This article uses examples of known patients' illness courses to give a perspective on the lived experience of patients with dementia (PWD) in Ghana, living amongst a populace with a culture of stigmatization of PWD, and a relatively fragile public mental health system (PMHS) for those with mental illness, including AD. The lived experience of AD patients is characterised by stigmatisation, discrimination, non-inclusiveness, diminished dignity and human rights abuses in the face of their mental disability, and eventually death. This article is an advocacy article giving voice to the voiceless and all persons suffering from AD and other dementias in Ghana, whilst pleading for a call to action from healthcare professionals and responsible state agencies.

Primary caregivers’ experiences of caring for people living with dementia in Ghana: a phenomenological study

“…Nonetheless, Ghana lacks empirical evidence and understanding of the effects of caring for PwD on the life of primary caregivers. The extant literature in Ghana has mainly focused on understanding dementia research needs and gaps [ 5 ], the caregiver’s needs [ 9 ], utilization of technology to improve the quality of life of PwD [ 10 ], and the lived experiences of PwD [ 11 , 12 ]. To the best of our knowledge, and after extensive literature search, there is currently no published empirical evidence that qualitatively explores the lived experiences of primary caregivers of PwD in relation to the impact of assuming caregiving role in Ghana.…”

“…(b) Does caregiving for PwD produce both positive and negative impacts? Addressing these questions is critical to gaining valuable and deeper insights into the nuances of caregiving for PwD in a setting like Ghana where dementia is shrouded in myths, misperceptions, and spiritualism [ 11 ]. To help narrow this knowledge gap, we explored the perspectives of primary caregivers about the impact of caring for PwD in Ghana.…”