Dementia is a chronic, progressive disease that renders patients in need of both medical and social services. Yet physicians typically do not have the time or skills required to coordinate these services and provide caregiver support. As a result, dementia patients often receive lower overall quality of care compared to older Americans without dementia.

In November 2011, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), launched an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program to provide comprehensive, coordinated, patient-centered care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A dementia care manager conducts a 90-minute assessment of the patient and of family resources and then drafts a personalized care plan to be reviewed by the referring physician. Care plans can include patient and caregiver education, support groups, advance care planning, medication reviews, and referral to other services.

Learn more about UCLA’s program from:

• Leslie Evertson, GNP, dementia care manager, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
• David Reuben, MD, Archstone professor and chief of geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA

A recording of the webinar and the presentation slides are available below.