Quality Dementia Care

Absent a cure or effective disease modifying treatment for dementia, developing cost-effective models of care that address the needs of caregivers alongside the medical management of the disease is necessary to maximize quality of care, address safety issues, and enhance the patient/caregiver experience. MemoryCare, a community-based non-profit organization, has 15 years of experience delivering a medical and care management model for persons with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Designed to supplement primary care services, the average annual cost-per-patient is US$1,279. Observational data on 967 patients and 3,251 caregivers served by the program in 2013 reveal high levels of satisfaction, increased dementia-specific knowledge, improved perceived ability to manage challenging behavioral aspects of dementia, and lengthened perceived time in the home setting. Data suggest lower hospitalization rates and related cost savings. These findings warrant a further study of broader integration of caregivers into clinical care models for persons with dementia.