What evidence underlies our practice with Alzheimer families?

Registered nurses who base their practice on scientific evidence can justify their decisions and the care they provide to the families of people with Alzheimer disease (AD). The health care literature should provide an evidence base for nurses to draw on. Families care for older members with AD, regardless of whether the setting is a family home, long-term care facility, or day-support program. Sometimes families say they need information to enable them to provide quality care. Their questions may include "What happens next?" "Where do we go from here?" or "How do I stop the wandering?" This study reviewed AD education articles in five journals used by gerontologic health care workers-primarily registered nurses. Findings identified a serious lack of education-specific articles. The implication is whether registered nurses are meeting the education needs of families.