The Gerontologist, Vol 31, Issue 5 686-691, Copyright © 1991 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

TOPS: a consumer approach to Alzheimer's respite programs

P Ehrlich and J White
Benjamin Rose Institute, Cleveland, OH 44115-1989.

Time Off Promotes Strength (TOPS), a program for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims, provides in-home and day program services. Through application of a service/training model adapted from the Global Deterioration Scale (Reisberg, 1983), the TOPS program maintains a high quality of services with a limited but highly trained professional staff. Caregiver independence and autonomy are emphasized, as is a flexible system that accommodates the ever-changing needs of both caregivers and care recipients.