This study will determine the feasibility of applying the business management concept of operational decision making to develop a problem solving approach to managing the care of Alzheimer's disease patients. This approach will limit the variables affecting the provision of care and provide a predictive structure for developing appropriate and flexible plans of care.The project objectives are to develop a planning process for use by case managers, community health nurses, or others who plan and manage the delivery of care to Alzheimer's disease patients. Long-term objectives are to establish a more predictive model for managing the care.
Anticipated Results:The potential commercial application of this research will be the development of an instrument for care planners to use in developing flexible yet individualized care plans for Alzheimer's disease patients. Depending on the complexity of the model developed, the application may take the form of a printed or computer-aided decision making process for use by care planners.National Institute on Aging
