Dementia as a Family Disease

This article by Gary Epstein-Lubow, in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs describes not just his mother-in-law's dementia but its affects on her husband of 55 years and the rest of her loving family.  From the article:

A recent Alzheimer's Association report estimated that more than 15 million Americans are providing unpaid care to a loved one with dementia.  .  .  .  A short-term plan is needed, with more attention to families.  We need care for the caregivers to be integrated into care for the patients.  When my mother-in-law was in the hospital, I was disappointed (but not surprised) that nobody stopped to ask my wife [the daughter], or anyone in the family: "How are you doing?"