Alzheimer’s disease is common among elders aged 65 and older and is a neurological disorder affecting brain cells. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common diseases among nursing home residents in the United States. According to data provided by the Joint Commission, in 2021, more than six million Americans lived with Alzheimer’s dementia in the United States (2022). The growing number of Alzheimer’s cases requires the addition of new updated requirements to nursing care centers.
Firstly, licensed nursing care homes may establish separate special care units for patients with Alzheimer’s disease to increase the quality of care and provide a more appropriate environment suitable for patients’ needs. Standard nursing homes are subjected to accreditation programs and requirements established by Alzheimer’s Association. The new standards recommended by The Joint Commission suggest establishing staff training and orientation centered on improving cognitive screening and the ability to recognize dementia symptoms and prioritizing individualized care for patients. Nursing homes with separate Alzheimer’s disease units are subjected to more strict standards, including a minimum ratio of nursing care per resident and staff’s extended in-service training on Alzheimer’s disease.
Standard in-home care implies patients stay at their own houses with the goal of providing assistance to the caregiver. In-home services include a wide range of service types for patients with Alzheimer depending on their needs. There are no specific requirements for in-home care providers; therefore, it is necessary for caregivers to ensure that they are qualified to care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, consumer-directed care prioritizes patients’ input into the treatment process through a partnership approach. Consumer-directed care utilizes new organizational mechanisms where patients have more control over care services and choose the ways in which care services will be provided to them.
Furthermore, the PACE (Program of all-Inclusive Care for Elderly) model is a relatively new care system successfully implemented for patients with Alzheimer’s disease with a goal of preventing nursing home admissions. The program provides an opportunity for patients with Alzheimer’s dementia to stay independent without losing the benefits of care services. The program can include a wide range of services, from in-home assistance and home health care to meal delivery. Compared to consumer-directed care, the PACE model allows patients to independently live in their own homes or with informal caregivers. The care model is implemented across a team or organization, meaning that the program requires the participation of healthcare and management professionals. On the other hand, unbundling of care services delivery stands for the process when healthcare providers separate services and procedures even though they were performed together. The PACE model favors the unbundling of care services to ensure that more uninsured patients can afford care services.
Thus, analyzing the differences between standard methods and new organizational arrangements for care in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia provided a substantial insight into understanding which care methods are more effective and identifying possible improvements. Firstly, the new approach in consumer-directed care, which prioritizes the input of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in care, can improve the caregiving results by empowering patients and caregivers. Next, the PACE model provides a significant opportunity for patients with dementia to maintain their independence without experiencing significant changes in their daily routine. Considering the growing number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, further improvements should focus on assisting and maintaining patients’ independency to avoid overflow in nursing homes with special care units for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, broad implementation of the PACE model in combination with unbundled service delivery can make care services more affordable for uninsured patients with Alzheimer’s dementia.
Reference
The Joint Commission. (2022). The Alzheimer’s Association and The Joint Commission collaborate to improve quality and safety in dementia care. Web.