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.

What Drives Country Differences in Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease? An Explanation from Resource Use in the GERAS Study

“…National dementia strategies in each country (France: Neurodegenerative disease plan [26][27][28]; Germany: Alliance for People with Dementia [29,30]; UK: country specific national dementia strategies [31][32][33][34]) all aim to support informal caregivers and/or facilitate professional services to maintain community living.…”

General practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: A mixed‐methods systematic review

“…General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in the care of people with dementia and their families . National strategies developed to address the increased prevalence of dementia have emphasised the role of GPs in successful implementation but dementia care in the community can be challenging . In common with their hospital‐based colleagues, General practitioners find the management of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) particularly difficult …”

At the End of a Very Hard Day, People Find Some Reason to Believe

“…The four articles included in this issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease illustrate some of the research done by the CMRR network [2][3][4][5].…”

“…This is, in particular, important for case management for elderly in complex situations. The purpose of the Pimouguet et al article [4] is to describe the main measures from the French national plan that aim to improve the care of dementia patients with an emphasis on MAIA measure (French acronym for Maison pour l'Autonomie et l'Intégration des malades d'Alzheimer / house for the autonomy and integration of patients with Alzheimer's disease). The article summarizes initial results of case management activities in one MAIA in the South West of France and further presents two Editorial clinical cases benefiting from case management in order to illustrate this type of intervention and its possible benefits.…”