Specialized continuing care models for persons with dementia: A systematicreview of the research literature

This systematic overview summarizes the published literature reflecting the effectiveness of services or models of care for persons with dementia livi ng in their homes, in specialized institutional care or assisted living cen tres/congregate homes. A detailed search for literature found studies evalu ating respite care, day programs, counselling, congregate living, and speci al care units in institutions and there is some evidence of the effectivene ss of these programs. No scientifically rigorous effectiveness studies, spe cific for persons with dementia, were found for hospice care, case manageme nt or psychogeriatric outreach mental health programs. First and foremost, more research is needed that examines the effectiveness of different progra ms for specific persons and their caregivers with different characteristics and the measurement of family expenditures as well as costs of programs.