ACCESS
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.
While some services and resources for Alzheimer’s patients and their family caregivers do exist in Harris County, the need exists for:
- 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
v
Limited English Speaking
Individuals.
v
Individuals experiencing
barriers in accessing available community services.
v
Individuals who may be
determined to be socially or geographically isolated.
v
Individuals who may have
limited or no Caregiver support.
v
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
For questions, email (click on name) or call:
Catherine
Cook
(713) 794-9001
Clemelia Richardson
(713) 794-7714
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.
