Ensuring the adequacy of long term care of AD patients: Special challenges and advocacy mechanisms

Abstract

The world is aging. The United Nations' has estimated an increase in those 65 years of age and older in the world from 6 percent of the total population in 1985 to 9.7 percent of the population by the year 2025. The growth in the elderly population is most significant among the oldest of the old. While the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to advanced age (as are other forms of dementia), it can be concluded that the aging of the world will result in an increase in the worldwide number of AD patients. For example, in the United States presently there are in excess of 2.5 million persons with AD and 100,000 AD patients are dying on a yearly basis-it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States for the elderly, following heart disease, cancer, and stroke.2 Holmes et al project that the number of AD victims in the United States will increase to over 14 million persons by the year 2050.3 It has been estimated that one-third of all American families have at least one parent who has AD.4

Simple Pleasures: A multilevel sensorimotor intervention for nursing home residents with dementia

“…1 Holmes et al 2 estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all new admissions to long term care facilities have AD. The National Alzheimer's Association 3 has approximated that there are over 1500 special care units housing more than 50,000 residents with dementia.…”

“…Approximately 10 percent of the population over 65 years of age has Alzheimer's disease (AD) or a related disorder and currently 17,000 nursing homes in the United States care for an estimated 1.3 million residents with AD. 1 Holmes et al 2 estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all new admissions to long term care facilities have AD. The National Alzheimer's Association 3 has approximated that there are over 1500 special care units housing more than 50,000 residents with dementia.…”

Meeting the Needs in Continuing Care of Facility-Based Residents Diagnosed With Dementia: Comparison of Ratings by Families, Direct Care Staff, and Other Staff

“…It is generally recognized that ongoing family support of formal care is a significant ingredient in the successful care management of residents in continuing care (Duncan & Morgan, 1994;Hertzberg & Ekman, 2000). Family assistance can take the form of visiting residents, providing ancillary support to staff and social and emotional support to residents, reporting on the casually observed condition of the residents, and providing contact with the community (Kosberg, Garcia, & Dulka, 1997). Agreeing on the needs of residents and whether the needs are being met is critical to the success of such collaborative efforts.…”

“…Families and friends of residents in continuing care have detailed knowledge of the residents' past that would help enrich their facility-based care if shared with staff. However, their assessment of the meeting of care needs is affected by a complex mixture of guilt, anguish, embarrassment, and relief following institutionalization and, in addition, they may have unrealistic expectations of such care (Kosberg et al, 1997). By contrast, direct care staff have a broader perspective provided by professional training or specialized training on dementia care.…”