African-American caregivers' expectations of physicians: gaining insights into the key issues of caregivers' concerns.

This qualitative study was done to determine what expectations, if any, African-American caregivers' have of physicians; what were the various causes of caregivers' distress, and what were the participants' perceived level of satisfaction or lack of satisfaction with the physician-patient-caregiver relationship The participants in this current study were either providing or had provided assistance in the activities of daily living of elders diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia. Focus group methodology was used and participants were recruited from Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. A total of 13 participants, whose mean age was 53.

Behavioral complications of dementia.

This article reviews the behavioral symptoms commonly associated with dementia. The epidemiology, general characteristics and instruments used to evaluate these symptoms are briefly discussed. Details on a variety of behavioral and psychological symptoms are presented.

Perceived needs of African-American caregivers of elders with dementia.

To assess the perceived needs of African-American caregivers and their expectations of the health care system, perceived level of success and satisfaction in meeting their needs, and their level of distress, we convened two focus groups at a local church in Oklahoma City, OK to discuss three questions. Responses were qualitatively analyzed for common themes. The groups comprised 13 African-American caregivers of demented elders.

Research issues for minority dementia patients and their caregivers: what are the gaps in our knowledge base?

This article highlights the current state of dementia research in ethnic minority populations. Studies are sparse, and an increased effort to recruit and retain minorities for dementia studies is required to properly treat and serve these families. An examination of research in the areas of minority caregiver issues (service needs, service use, affiliation with a support group) and patient evaluation is provided.

Anticipating and preventing delirium.

Delirium is one of the most common complications in elderly hospitalized patients. It is a predictor of poor prognosis. Despite its high incidence, studies have shown that physicians fail to detect at least half of all cases of delirium.

Neuropsychological screening tests in African Americans.

Neuropsychological tests are instruments used to diagnose a variety of cognitive conditions. This article will review a few of the brief scales commonly used in screening for dementia. It will also discuss the properties of and problems with some of the brief scales that are commonly used to screen African Americans for dementia, highlighting the various biases.

Medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

At the time this article was written, there were only three medications approved by the Federal Drug Administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Currently there are four approved medications. The newest drug, galantamine, is not reviewed in this article.

Incompetence: update on the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are devastating conditions that exact enormous costs and burdens on their victims, families and society. Recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are very encouraging. However, the newer medications for Alzheimer's disease are effective only in early and moderate stages of the disease.

Common health problems among minority elders.

This article reviews the primary health problems of African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian/Pacific Islander-American, and Native-American elders. The goal is to familiarize practicing dietitians with the differences in longevity, disease spectrum, and functional status (where data are available) for each of these ethnic groups. These data should be of assistance in making decisions regarding dietary counseling for ethnic elders.

Nursing management of elderly patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Nursing management of elderly patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria encompasses an array of basic and complex nursing observations and interventions to eliminate or reduce those risk factors that contribute to persistent bacteriuria and to identify warning signs of an impending inflammatory response. Selected risk factors, the prevalence of bacteriuria in the elderly population, and nursing management of clients with asymptomatic bacteriuria are discussed.