Alzheimer Special Care Units Not Always 'Special'

Alzheimer's Association
Wednesday, 13 July 1994

The trend to special care units in nursing homes specifically for persons with Alzheimer's disease may too often be an expensive marketing technique that segregates memory-impaired patients but fails to provide for their special needs, the Alzheimer's Association cautions.

"While this is generally a positive trend, there may be nothing 'special' about many of these dementia-specific units," says Paul McCarty, chair of the Association's Public Policy Committee. "Yet they often cost more than basic nursing home care."

In 1991, there were approximately 1,500 Alzheimer's disease special care units in the United States with 50,000 residents, and the numbers are expected to grow to 2,600 units serving 86,000 residents by 1995, according to recent national survey data.

"There are many very good facilities," says Bill Keane, of the Association's Public Policy Committee. "However, special care units are unregulated in most states. The Alzheimer's Association has begun its own investigation of the quality of care in these units in order to protect patients and families." The Association surveyed 112 state ombudspersons, 61 directors of state nursing home licensing agencies and 453 family members on their experiences with special care units. The findings are presented in Alzheimer Special Care in Nursing Homes: Is It Really Special?.

According to the report, in general, family members are satisfied with the care their loved ones receive in special care units. However, more than 20 percent of families report that no efforts are made to adapt the environment to the special needs of patients, or advise the family about alternatives to nursing home placement. In addition, advocates surveyed report there is little difference between the care provided in most special care units compared to traditional nursing homes in several important areas.

Little data exists on the comparative cost of special care units and more traditional nursing homes. "However, one-third of the families surveyed say they paid more for a special care unit than a conventional nursing home would cost," Keane says. "Too often family members report they were not given information on extra costs."

The Association recommends requiring full disclosure by nursing homes of the special services they provide, professional training and consumer education. "In addition, the Alzheimer's Association will be working with professional advocates and health care professionals to define and implement quality of care for people with Alzheimer's disease in all care settings, especially special care units," McCarty says. "And, we'll be working with state and federal officials to ensure consumers are protected."

The Alzheimer's Association is the largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to research for the causes, treatments, prevention and cure of Alzheimer's disease and to providing education and support services to the four million Americans with the disease, their families and caregivers. You can reach the Alzheimer's Association at (800) 272-3900.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org