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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2009 Jun-Jul;24(3):193–207. doi: 10.1177/1533317508330466

The Effects of a Dementia Nurse Care Manager on Improving Caregiver Outcomes Outcomes

Janet Specht 1, Ann Bossen 2, Geri Richards Hall 3, Bridget Zimmerman 4, Jane Russell 5
PMCID: PMC10846145  PMID: 19246574

Abstract

Iowa's Administration on Aging's Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grant to the States was a project to implement and evaluate a nurse care management model of service delivery for persons with dementia or care recipient and their family caregiver that was integrated with the case management system. The goal of the nursing service delivery model was to maintain persons with dementia safely in their homes, by connecting them with appropriate services and providing support to the care recipient and caregivers. Outcomes measures were evaluated over time. This article defines the role of dementia nurse care management and shares the results of the outcomes measurements. The evaluation showed that caregivers assisted by nurse care managements were more likely to show improvement in their stress levels, endurance potential, and well-being. This improvement was consistent over time.

Keywords: nurse care manager, case management, caregiver outcomes

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Janet Specht, University of Iowa College of Nursing, Janet-specht@uiowa.edu .

Ann Bossen, University of Iowa College of Nursing.

Geri Richards Hall, University of Iowa College of Nursing.

Bridget Zimmerman, University of Iowa College of Public Health Iowa City, Iowa.

Jane Russell, University of Iowa College of Nursing.

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