More and more long-term care facilities are developing specialized units to care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients, says Anne Von Hoene, coordinator of the Helpline and Safe Return programs for the Greater Cincinnati Alzheimer's Association. According to statistics from the Health Care Finance Administration, the number of specialized nursing home beds for Alzheimer's patients has grown an average of 17 percent a year from 1993 to 1996, or from 43,710 to 87,041 nationally. When Ronald and Nancy Reagan announced the former president's struggles with Alzheimer's a few years ago, public attention focused on the debilitating disease. Researchers are speeding up efforts to find effective treatments and possibly a cure for Alzheimer's because, left unchecked, it could reach epidemic proportions as the baby boom generation reaches and passes retirement age. Home health care, specialized residential facilities, hospice and respite care are all available to help patients preserve their abilities for as long as possible and give caregivers needed relief from the strain of caring for a dependent 24 hours a day.
Support groups put caregivers and patients in touch with each other.
Adult day care services allow patients to live with working caregivers. Home health nursing and hospice services provide regular professional check-ups at home. Respite care gives caregivers a temporary break. And the Tristate has a growing number of long-term care facilities for Alzheimer's patients. Finding a home Carlene Smith visits Walter Cinnamon at Alden Courts.