New Resources in the State for Serving People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
The state has recently made an historic investment into funding to further develop services and supports for Alzheimer’s disease in New York, resulting in growing resources for caregivers as well as service providers. The Department of Health (DOH) has updated their website to highlight the different initiatives and how that translates to resources in each county. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with any resources you have not yet connected with. Some of the initiatives fund existing programs to expand their offerings and reach, while other initiatives are funding new programs or activities. Connecting with these resources will help you to be knowledgeable about how their services can support your community and the people you serve and ensure they are aware of any specialized services you provide as a potential referral source. Below is a summary of the different initiatives; click here for more detailed information.
Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease (CEADs): The purpose of the Centers is to be an expert resource for primary care and other health care professionals for diagnosis and assessment, management and treatment, and referrals. There are nine CEADs statewide. It is anticipated that a North Country CEAD will be operational later this year.
Alzheimer's Disease Community Assistance Program: These programs provide information and referral, training, support to caregivers, consultation and more. These programs are operated by the six NYS Alzheimer's Association Chapters and CaringKind in New York City. Some of these programs provide paraprofessional training and could be a good resource for training your aide level workforce.
Alzheimer's Disease Regional Caregiver Support Initiative: This program provides support services to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias to promote their mental and physical well-being, including respite and support groups. They are operated by ten regional organizations, in collaboration with community partners.
Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Support Initiative for Underserved Communities: This program funds 15 organizations to provide support services to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias who are members of underserved communities. These programs have not yet started but offer promise for innovative new ways to reach populations that haven’t necessarily accessed services prior.
Addressing Disparities in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Alzheimer's Association of the Hudson Valley, working with faith-based organizations, is providing services to individuals in African American and Hispanic communities within Westchester, Orange and Rockland Counties.
Additional Resources:
CaringKind in New York City has recently issued a guide, CaringKind's Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia. This guide was developed based on a pilot program implemented in some downstate nursing homes, including some LeadingAge NY members. We congratulate these members on this important work. Click here to access this free resource.
Over the five years of funding that the state has invested, each initiative will undergo an evaluative component which will ultimately be used to make decisions about future programming and funding. As the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementias grows, LeadingAge NY encourages members to connect with community partners to determine how you can support and increase the impact of one another’s work.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828