According to “The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care,” every person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder deserves the following rights:

• To be informed of one’s diagnosis;
• To have appropriate, ongoing medical care;
• To be productive in work and play for as long as possible;
• To be treated like an adult, not like a child;
• To have expressed feelings taken seriously;
• To be free from psychotropic medications, if possible;
• To live in a safe, structured, and predictable environment;
• To enjoy meaningful activities that fill each day;
• To be outdoors on a regular basis;
• To have physical contact, including hugging, caressing, and hand-holding;
• To be with individuals who know one’s life story, including cultural and religious traditions; and
• To be cared for by individuals who are well trained in dementia care.

Source: “The Best Friends Approach To Alzheimer’s Care,” Virginia Bell and David Troxel, Health Profession Press, 1997, www.bestfriendsapproach.com