Alzheimer’s Care Coordination Education and Service System

The Alzheimer’s disease Demonstration Grants to States Programs (ADDGS) was established with the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998. The program is administered by the Administration on Aging, within the Department of Health and Human Services.

The program’s mission is to expand the availability of diagnostic and support services for persons with Alzheimer’s disease, their families, and their caregivers, as well as to improve the responsiveness of the home and community care system to persons with dementia. The program focuses on serving hard-to-reach and underserved people with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders (ADRDs) using trained Navigators.

Activities

The Harris County Area Agency on Aging was awarded a grant in 2005.

• More adult day care and respite services, especially in rural parts of Harris County
• Faster access to home and community-based waiver services
• Information about services and resources available online and in Spanish
• Family caregiver training offered in different formats and accessible locations.
• Involvement of faith-based and volunteer organizations in developing additional respite resources.
• Limited transportation assistance to Caregivers and recipients.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services seeks to address these needs and constant service disconnect by building on work already begun under our Systems Change grants and collaborating with other key organizations to develop new resources to assist family caregivers using system Navigators to assist identified clients with accessing available services.


 

Overview of Project

The Harris County Area Agency on Aging will utilize the Navigation model to assist Caregivers who care for individuals dealing with dementia related illnesses. The project combines models of:

• Direct care for underserved populations
• Care Coordination Services (i.e. respite)
• Caregiver Education and Training

Who Do We Serve

• Limited English Speaking Individuals.
• Individuals experiencing barriers in accessing available community services.
• Individuals who may be determined to be socially or geographically isolated.
• Individuals who may have limited or no Caregiver support.
• Other individuals as deemed appropriate through an assessment process.

Goal

Focus services/support at the home and community level for people with AD/related disorders and their family caregivers by developing additional services and making access to services easier and resource information more readily available using the system Navigator Model.


 

Major Objectives

• Web-based information system with special focus on Alzheimer’s disease
• Faith-based volunteer services
• Community family caregiver training and planning committee to explore needs of people who have been found to have Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia related illness.
• Utilize Cultural specific and targeted agencies to address the needs of clients from a knowledgeable perspective.

The overall approach includes:

• Enhancement of current systems change initiatives
• Focus on minority and rural populations
• Collaboration with key partners and community organizations

Valerie Mattox
Counselor
(713) 794-9001

 

Participating Organizations

Alzheimer’s Association
http://www.alz.org/

Asian American Family Counseling Center
http://www.aafstexas.org/

Care for Elders
http://www.careforelders.org/

Chinese Community Center
http://www.ccchouston.org/

Harris County Hospital District (Gateway To Care)
http://www.gatewaytocare.org/

Interfaith Care Partners
http://www.interfaithcarepartners.org/

Perry Lee Home Health

Sheltering Arms
http://www.shelteringarms.org/

Texas Southern University (Center on Aging and Intergenerational Wellness)
http://www.tsu.edu/about/administration/research/administrative/COTF/aging.asp

This project was supported, in part, by a grant, number 90TZ200, from the Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, and Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.