Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines For Adults With Alzheimers Disease And Related Disorders

Practice guideline are important tools for promoting the highest quality of care. This practice guideline gives occupational therapy practitioners, educators, and health care professionals an evidence-based guideline for providing the best, most appropriate care for adults with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders as well as their caregivers. Of the numerous types of dementia, some are rare, while others are reaching alarming proportions. The most prevalent is Alzheimer's disease, with 1 in 85 individuals predicted to have the disease by 2050, for a total of 107 million people globally. As the disease currently is progressive and ultimately fatal, there are major challenges not only for the individuals affected but also for their families and communities. This Practice Guideline reviews the symptoms, stages, and pharmacology as well as gives a detailed description of the occupational therapy process for various approaches and interventions. Appendixes include selected CPTTM and ICD-9-CM codes, as well as driving and community mobility issues for people with Alzheimer's disease.