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An Aid for Caregivers of Patients with Dementia
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
TO THE EDITOR:
The potential psychiatric and physical symptoms experienced by caregivers of patients with dementia are highlighted by Baumgarten and colleagues [1]. Many personal interactions outside the home environment can result in anxiety and embarrassment to both the caregiver and the patient [2]. The caregiver of one of my patients provided a novel solution.
A 67-year-old woman, accompanied by her husband, came to the Urgent Care Center with abdominal pain. No past medical records were available. It became increasingly difficult to document the patient's presenting problem until her husband took from his shirt pocket a card that he had made with the word “Alzheimer's” on it. After I saw the card, he returned it to his pocket. This maneuver took about 5 seconds and was not perceived by his wife.
This simple, inexpensive tool prevented embarrassment to the patient and her caregiver. The card not only simplified the consultation but many other aspects of their lives.
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
- Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians
