Criteria for recommending options for the elderly cognitively impaired

Abstract

The plight of the cognitively impaired elderly in the United States deserves great attention as there are glaring deficits in the areas of care and treatment of dementia.

This author would like to convey a set of ideas to give the healthcare professional some clear direction on:

• What needs to be considered in evaluating the deficits and needs of the demented elderly person and family.

• How can we best go about the process of making the determination about what is needed.?

• What are the characteristics of the patient that serve as predictors for assignment to services- and what are the characteristics of the caregivers that serve as predictors for services?

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