[Caring for the elderly with dementia: a study of ambulatory nursing practice].

The care provided by caregivers to elderly people with dementia is investigated having as objectives: to describe the characteristics of sixteen elderly and their caregivers in attendence at the neurogeriatrical ambulatory of Rio de Janeiro during 2004; to identify nursing and care diagnosis used by caregivers, through EDG, MEEM, AIVDs and AVDs applied in nursing assessments. The quantitative descriptive method was employed, as a study of each case, obtaining the results: in the client- Disorientation, aggressiveness, skin drought, urinary incontinence, disturbance in the family relationship; In the caregivers- inefficient caregiver/elderly communication, physical fatigue, lack of knowledge about care; accomplished types of care--feeding, medication and hygiene. In conclusion, educational nursing actions are necessary to improve the care quality to the elderly and their family.