ORGANIZATION OF ALZHEIMERS SERVICES FOR RURAL-AREAS

The current number of diagnosed Alzheimer's patients, nationally estimated to be at least two million people, is a major social and policy problem. Research on the management of Alzheimer's disease has a decidedly urban focus, even though a quarter of the U.S. population is rural. Different models of providing care to Alzheimer's patients in rural areas are explored, including (a) a model in which experts are imported from urban areas, (b) a local initiative model, and (c) a partnership model that combines urban expertise with local resources. The strengths of the partnership model for rural Alzheimer's programs include the use of imported professional expertise and the involvement of indigenous personnel who know the values, resources, and interaction patterns of the community. A variation of the partnership model is recommended for rural Alzheimer's programs and is appropriate for interdisciplinary educational experiences.