Ethical dilemmas in discharge planning for patients with Alzheimer's disease

Because of an increase in the older population in the United States, hospital social workers are faced with the task of developing discharge plans for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The nature of the disease creates the potential for complex situations that can complicate the discharge-planning process. This article explores the ethical dilemmas that arise in discharge planning for patients with Alzheimer's disease and examines how the nature of these dilemmas evolves as the illness progresses. A clinical model is proposed to help practitioners identify, organize, and evaluate information relevant to discharge planning and determine an appropriate course of action.