title: The 2008-2012 French Alzheimer plan: a unique opportunity for improving integrated care for dementia.
abstract: The 2008-2012 French Alzheimer plan has proposed measures to improve care for dementia patients in a more personalized and graduate approach owing to patients and caregivers needs. A key measure of the plan is the nationwide implementation of the MAIA (French acronym for Maison pour l'Autonomie et l'Intégration des malades d'Alzheimer). The main goal is to implement a process of integration through a network of partners involved in elderly care, assistance, or support. The MAIA model comprises tools and mechanisms necessary to improve the integrated care process; in particular, case management for elderly in complex situations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the main measures from the national plan that aim to improve care for dementia patients with an emphasis on the MAIA measure. We summarize initial results of case management activity in one MAIA in the South West of France and we present two vignettes of cases benefiting from case management in order to demonstrate the nature of intervention. The French Alzheimer plan has promoted several non-pharmacological strategies for dementia patients. Implementation of both integrated care and case management represent a challenging perspective for the elderly and health professionals.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Universite Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Leo Saignat, Bordeaux Cedex, France. clement.pimouguet@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pimouguet
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Somme
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lavallart
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019090:Case Management; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies