A model for Alzheimer's disease support group development in African-American and Hispanic populations.

Alzheimer's disease caregiver support groups were developed simultaneously in two southeastern cities with existing AD support groups but without ethnic minority use. The "ethic competence" concept, featuring targeted ethnographic methods, was applied in African-American and Hispanic communities in both sites. In 2 years, 114 ethnic minority primary caregiver and patient dyads were identified and African-American and Hispanic support groups were functioning.