Organizations providing information and referral for dementia patients and families include the Alzheimer's Association ([800] 272-3900), the Geriatric Psychiatry Alliance ([888] 463-6472), the American Geriatrics Society ([212] 308-1414), and the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center ([800] 438-4380). All offer consumer education, research, and support programs.

AD is a physical and psychiatric disease, yet its role in many health plans is unclear. Some patients have been denied eligibility for some state-funded services, such as Medicaid. Social and medical research can be directed towards finding just ways to pay for AD. More, to maximize the access to care of dementia patients, evidence-based treatment protocols should shape decisions by health care delivery systems. Finally, special care should be taken to protect the rights of cognitively impaired adults, including the use of advance directives and durable powers of attorney.