http://nwh.awhonn.org © 2010, AWHONN 97

DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-486X.2010.01521.x

ALZHEIMER DISEASEAn Important Issue for Women

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2009

Shaken Baby

Postpartum PTSD

Creating Healthy

Workplaces

http: //nwh.awhonn.org

Alzheimer Disease in Women

Ifound the article on Alzheimer disease (AD) in women (Gies & Lessick, 2009) highly in-

formative and applicable to nursing practice. As a BSN nursing student nearing graduation in spring 2010, I will soon be part of the nursing workforce, caring for a growing elderly popula-tion with an increasing incidence of AD—many of whom will be women. While I thought the article was very good, I wish it had mentioned adult day care centers. Findings by Aggarwal et al. (2003) demonstrate that patient opinions of day care centers are much more positive than opinions of residential care, with patients not-ing higher levels of activity, choice and indepen-dence. Day care also provides relief for the fam-ily without need for full residential care. Nurses need to be aware of the benefi ts of day care

centers in order to use evidence-based practice in recommending them to patients and families.

Th ank you for publishing the article by Gies and Lessick and providing nurses with a valu-able resource for AD care.

Bonnie GrantRockford, IL

ReferencesAggarwal, N., Vass, A. A., Minardi, H. A., Ward, R.,

Garfi eld, C., & Cybyk, B. (2003). People with de-mentia and their relatives: Personal experiences of Alzheimer’s and provision of care. Journal of Psy-chiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 10, 187–197.

Gies, C. & Lessick, M. (2009). Alzheimer disease in women: A clinical and genetics perspective. Nurs-ing for Women’s Health, 13(4), 312–324.