[A patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease supported by home medical care from the stage of disease progression to death through hospital-clinic cooperation and medical-welfare cooperation].

The patient was a 63-year-old woman who presented with slowness of speech after cerebral infarction. Diffusion-weighted MR images and investigations of cerebrospinal fluid showed abnormal values, and the patient was diagnosed as having sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD). This is an intractable disease and affects one in one million people; it progresses relatively rapidly, eventually resulting in death. For procedures such as intravenous fluid replacement and the treatment of pressure sores, we require thorough hand washing, eye protection, and disposal of gloves and dressings by incineration. It is desirable for patients to spend the limited amount of time available to them peacefully at home with their family. Visiting physicians and nurses need to take the initiative in sharing information obtained from the CJD infection control guidelines and core hospitals with welfare personnel such as caregivers, in order to provide correct information on all aspects of patient care and the management of this disease in the home environment. Excellent supportive care was provided for the patient at home, and she passed away with her family by her side.