Availability of special nursing home programs for Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract

While still controversial, there is a growing belief that Alzheimer's disease patients require special programs across the service continuum. There is also a growing concern that nursing home facilities are not providing the programming required. Using data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey, national estimates are presented on the number of nursing facilities that have special units or programs directed towards the specific needs of the cognitively impaired elderly-primarily patients with Alzheimer's disease. The findings represent the first national estimates on special nursing home programs and units for Alzheimer's disease patients based on a nationally representative sample of nursing facilities. The survey included 759 facilities, and is weighted to be representative of all nursing facilities serving the elderly in 1987. Examined are the numbers of facilities with Alzheimer's disease programs, the patient capacities of these programs, the characteristics of the facilities, the future plans of facilities to either expand present programs or develop new ones, the availability of specialized training received by the staff of these programs, and the respite care these programs offer to non residents. The discussion centers on the implications these analyses hold for the further development of LTC policies and program provisions regarding Alzheimer's disease patients.