Dementia care navigation: Building toward a common definition, key principles, and outcomes

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Navigation

Background:

• Patient navigation is increasingly vital due to complex healthcare systems.
• Dementia care navigation is a patient-centered model ideal for managing dementia's complexity.
• Patient navigators help patients overcome barriers to care without providing clinical services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish evidence-based guidelines for dementia care navigation.
• To inform the development and enhancement of dementia care navigation programs.
• To define principles for effective dementia care navigation.

Main Methods:

• An expert workgroup convened by the Alzheimer's Association.
• Review of existing U.S. dementia care navigation programs.
• Identification of evidence-based guidelines and principles.

Main Results:

• Dementia care navigation benefits individuals with dementia and their care partners.
• Improved outcomes include reduced emergency visits, hospital readmissions, and hospitalization duration.
• Enhanced well-being observed through decreased depression and improved quality of life for patients.
• Care partners experienced reduced depression, burden, and unmet needs.

Conclusions:

• Dementia care navigation programs demonstrate positive outcomes for patients, care partners, and health systems.
• Principles derived from these programs can guide future dementia care navigation initiatives.
• This work provides a foundation for optimizing dementia care delivery through navigation.