Care environments for patients with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease creates various demands in terms of community-based and institutional long-term care resources and services needed for patients, caregivers, and families. Nurses play a pivotal role in helping patients, caregivers, and families decide what resources and services are needed. The determinants involved in the decision-making process related to short-term and long-term care options are described. Next, the home, community, and institutional care environments are reviewed. Finally, policy recommendations related to care environments for Alzheimer's patients are discussed.