New Project to Benefit Persons with Alzheimer's and their Caregivers

Doug Ricker

King County was recently selected as one of two sites for a unique "dementia partnership." Persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia and their caregivers may be eligible for an array of free services under the project.

Funded by an Administration on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grant and coordinated by the Washington Department of Health and Human Services, the King County Dementia Partnership aims to demonstrate a collaborative, integrated model of services for the target population. In addition to King County, the project is being launched in the four-county (Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom) region served by the Northwest Regional Council.

Three services are available through the partnership:

1. Memory care and wellness service is a specialized day care program for persons with dementia. Offered at ElderHealth Northwest's South Seattle site, the program provides a safe, stimulating environment tailored to the needs of persons with Alzheimer's or other dementia. Dementia-specific care planning and a soon-to-begin exercise program are two highlights of this service. ElderHealth can even arrange transportation to the site for most clients. "We're working for a win-win situation providing caregivers with a much needed break while enaging their loved ones in therapeutic and enjoyable activities," says Elisabeth Lindley, the Alzheimer's program coordinator.

An evaluation conducted by Dr. Rebecca Logsdon of the University of Washington's School of Nursing is an important part of this component. The study will investigate the effect of memory care and wellness services on measures of health, mood, and overall quality of life for persons with dementia and their caregivers. It will also examine whether the service helps delay placement in a nursing home.

2. Family support consultations are offered primarily by the Alzheimer's Association Western and Central Washington Chapter. These individualized consultations can be provided in the home or other preferred location, and are designed to help caregivers manage the challenges inherent in caring for persons with dementia. Sessions may involve sharing information about dementia, teaching caregiving skills, and helping in long-term planning.

Kin On Community Health Care is offering these consultations to Chinese-speaking clients under the grant, and a special collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and Sea Mar Community Health Center called El Portal is making the service available to Latino clients.

3. Caregiver counseling is provided by Evergreen Healthcare's Geriatric Regional Assessment Team (GRAT), and offers the emotional support often required by caregivers of persons with dementia. "Caregiving for a person with dementia is often even harder than caring for a person with physical disability, because the caregiver is unable to discuss decisions and reason with the care recipient," says Karen Kent, GRAT's Clinical Supervisor.  Depression, anxiety, and family conflict are just some of the caregiver issues GRAT counselors help address. (See "Family Caregiver Counseling" in this issue of Seniors Digest for more information on this much-needed service.)

An overall goal of the partnership is to promote a new level of collaboration among the partner agencies around Alzheimer's and dementia care issues. In addition to the organizations mentioned above, Senior Services, Kin On Community Healthcare, and Seattle/King County Aging and Disability Services are also members. Already cross-referrals have increased among the partner agencies, and several joint trainings and workshops are planned.

Caregivers can learn about free enrollment in this project by calling one of the partner agencies as follows:

• Memory care and wellness service: Jennifer Herrmann at ElderHealth Northwest, (206) 528-5315
• Family support consultation: Jane Tornatore at Alzheimer's Association, (206) 363-5500
• Caregiver counseling: call GRAT at (206) 923-6300 and ask for the Intake Office
• Spanish language (all services): Janet Ceballos at Alzheimer's Association, (206) 363-5500 x240
• Chinese language (all services): Jane Wong at Kin On, (206) 652-2330 x15

Caregivers may also learn about other community-based options if they are unable to participate in the project.