title: Strengthening the dementia care triad: identifying knowledge gaps and linking to resources.
abstract: This article describes a project to identify the needs of family caregivers and health care providers caring for persons with dementia. Participants included 128 caregivers, who completed a survey, and 27 health care providers, who participated in a focus group and completed a survey. Caregivers reported their primary source of information about the disease was the doctor; however, the majority also reported they were primarily informed of medications and not about needed resources. Health care providers identified limited time with patients and families, and lack of awareness of community services, as their main challenges. Recommendations include strengthening the partnership between physicians, patients, and caregivers (the dementia care triad) through additional support and training for physicians and caregivers, increasing awareness of the Alzheimer's Association, and utilization of technology for families and professionals to track the needs of persons with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health, Williamsburg, VA, USA Department of Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA cjensen@excellenceinaging.org.
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations
keywords: Alzheimer’s Association; dementia care management; dementia care triad