A Model for Family Meetings in the Long Term Care of Alzheimer's Disease

The progressive intellectual, behavioral and functional deterioration characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease, ultimatelv necessitates institutionalization. Not only do families of these patients experience intense feelings of grief, anger, and sadness but additionally must cope with the enormous formerly-shared stresses of legal problems, economic management and family negotiations. There is a need for knowledge about the disease process, opportunity to ventilate feelings and concerns, and guidance in the decisionmaking process with regards to the level of medical intervention at the time of a life-threatening illness. A model for periodic family conferences with the long term care multidisciplinary treatment team, to meet the unique needs of family members of institutionalized Alzheimer's Disease patients is described.