Abstract
Since publication of an article about Alzheimer's disease in 1974, the author has received numerous communications from relatives of patients with that disease. They poignantly expressed their concerns regarding the disease and its effect on them and their relatives. Those communications show that families are not receiving the help they need in coping with these experiences. In this article the concerns expressed by families are summarized and suggestions are made for ways nurses can help families of Alzheimer's disease patients.