Experimental Care Program Keeps Dementia Sufferers at Home Longer

In a report published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, an 18-month pilot program that brought resources and counselors to elderly patients with dementia and other memory disorders, significantly increased the length of time they were able to remain living at home. The program, known as Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home involved 303 people, age 70 and older with memory disorders, primarily dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The goal of the program was to determine if a dementia-care coordination model that incorporated evidence-supported care practices could delay or prevent the need to move from their homes to another setting, such as a nursing home or assisted-living facility. In a median follow-up period of 2 years, those who got 18 months of care coordination with home visits were able to stay in their homes 9.5 months longer. To read more about this report, click here.