Community management of Alzheimer's disease

Community-based long-term care for victims of AD requires coordination and creativity on the part of a variety of health care professionals, including nurses, physicians, social workers, ancillary therapists, day-care coordinators, and staff in state and federal agencies, as well as of a variety of nonprofessionals who can provide ongoing home care or community agency assistance. The primary role of the health care professional in the community is to assist family members and care agencies in identifying, assessing, and implementing appropriate care for the person with a dementing illness. Much of that role involves matching family and patient needs with available services and participating in local, state, and federal organizations that project the type and extent of services needed now and in the future. Nursing care ranges from participating at the organizational or planning level to actually implementing hands-on care.