Before a patient with beginning stage of Alzheimer's disease is discharged, the community-based nurse is making a visit to the patient's home. The patient's daughter and family live in the home with the patient. What is the major focus of this visit?

A) Teach the family how to monitor blood pressure.
B) Demonstrate techniques for providing care.
C) Stress to the family how difficult it will be to provide care at home.
D) Encourage the family to send the patient to an extended care facility.

The role of the community health nurse, when dealing with patients with Alzheimer's disease, is to maintain the best possible functioning, protection, and safety for the patient. The nurse should demonstrate to the primary family caregiver techniques for dressing, feeding, and toileting the patient while providing encouragement and emotional support to the caregiver. Monitoring blood pressure is not necessary for an Alzheimer's patient; blood pressure would be for a patient with hypertension. The nurse should protect the patient's rights and maintain family stability, not encourage placement in an extended care facility.