Programs that offer a variety of tests to establish the presence of Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease or other conditions which involve loss of memory, deterioration of intellectual functioning, disorientation and other similar symptoms.

Programs that offer simple tests for the early detection of mild memory problems that may not be associated with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The screenings are generally confidential and involve completion of a questionnaire and a short memory test. People who exhibit cognitive and behavioral problems beyond those associated with normal aging may be referred for neuropsychological testing.

Programs that offer any of a variety of therapeutic approaches which are intended to maximize the existing cognitive functioning of people who have Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease or other forms of cognitive impairment. Interventions include structured activities and exercises that are designed for people who have a short attention span and require extra verbal and visual stimulation with the objective of enhancing the individual's perception of the environment, promoting trust, reducing anxiety, avoiding overstimulation and maximizing communication skills.

Programs that are staffed by specialists in the field of medicine that is concerned with the total health of the individual within the home environment and in the community. Practitioners of family and community medicine provide comprehensive medical care including preventive services with particular emphasis on the family unit, in which the physician's continuing responsibility for health care is not limited by the patient's age or gender, nor by a particular organ system or disease entity.

An acquired reduction in mental capacity that is characterized by impairment of memory, judgment and intellectual functioning which is often accompanied by behavioral disturbances.

An age-related, non-reversible brain disorder that develops over a period of years. Initially, people experience memory loss and confusion, which may be mistaken for the kinds of memory changes that are sometimes associated with normal aging. The symptoms gradually lead to behavior and personality changes, a decline in cognitive abilities such as decision-making and language skills and problems recognizing family and friends; and ultimately to a severe loss of mental function. Alzheimer's disease is one of a group of disorders called dementias that are characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems. It is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older.

A slowly progressive brain disorder that shares characteristics with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The central feature of the condition is progressive cognitive decline, combined with three additional defining features: pronounced "fluctuations" in alertness and attention such as frequent drowsiness, lethargy, lengthy periods of time spent staring into space, or disorganized speech; recurrent visual hallucinations; and parkinsonian motor symptoms such as rigidity and the loss of spontaneous movement. People may also suffer from depression. The symptoms are caused by the build-up of Lewy bodies (accumulated deposits of alpha-synuclein protein) inside the nuclei of neurons in areas of the brain that control particular aspects of memory and motor control. There is no cure or definitive treatment for Lewy body dementia.

The parents, children, spouses, partners, friends or other relatives or significant others of people who have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, whose own patterns of personal, social and familial coping have been significantly affected by concern about the individual.