Collaborative care reduces Alzheimer's symptoms

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Compared to usual care, collaborative care has many benefits for the person with Alzheimer and their caregivers.
Alzheimer's disease gives rise to a wide range of physical and behavioral symptoms and its impact on the caregiver's own health can be profound. That is why some health systems are developing a collaborative approach where a team - rather than just the physician - works together to tackle the various aspects of the disease.

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine now report upon a comparison of collaborative care and standard care over a one year period. A group of 84 patients with dementia received collaborative care given by a nurse practitioner who worked with the caregiver. The intervention package involved using standard protocols for behavioral and psychological symptoms and for protecting the caregiver's own health. They were also given emotional support, legal and financial advice and coping skills advice. Meanwhile, another group consisting of 69 patients received augmented usual care where they received some face-to-face counseling with a geriatric nurse practitioner.

Those in the collaborative care group had fewer symptoms at 12 and 18 months after the start of the study. Their caregivers had less distress and depression. However, there were no obvious improvements in cognition, nursing home placements or activities of daily living. The findings suggest that the collaborative approach to dementia care is linked to many benefits.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 10th May 2006 Volume 295 pages 2148-2157

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