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Alabama Wins Alzheimer’s Award

By Governor Bob Riley's Office

An Alabama program that helps ease the stress on those who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is being recognized as the best in the nation. Alabama Wins Alzheimer’s Award

Published: Tue, November 13, 2007 - 12:52 pm Last Updated: Tue, November 13, 2007 - 12:56 pm

MONTGOMERY – An Alabama program that helps ease the stress on those who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is being recognized as the best in the nation.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services’ REACH Intervention Project is the winner of the 2007 Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award. The award, given by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI), recognizes innovative partnerships between community organizations and caregiving researchers.

“We’ve made it a priority to use innovative programs to improve the services we deliver and improve the quality of life for our citizens,” Governor Bob Riley said. “Programs like REACH lessen the burden on family members and allow loved ones to stay in their homes.”

The Alabama REACH Intervention Project is a partnership between the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) and the University of Alabama’s Center for Mental Health and Aging. REACH, which stands for Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health, is a support program designed to alleviate stress for those who care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

“The stress on a caregiver often becomes so great that their health declines and they are no longer able to care for their loved one,” ADSS Executive Director Irene Collins said. “REACH teaches caregivers how to take care of themselves so their health doesn’t suffer. This prevents caregiver burnout and allows people with Alzheimer’s to live in their homes and with their family.”

In June, ADSS held REACH training for Caregiver Coordinators and Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver Case Managers. This training has allowed employees in each Area Agency on Aging to implement components of the REACH Program statewide.

Alabama’s REACH Intervention Project was funded by the Administration on Aging and implemented in four pilot Area Agencies on Aging: Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission, South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging and Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments. Because of the REACH Project’s success, the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging received a separate grant and began piloting the project in October.

The REACH Intervention Project has two main goals:

· to develop and expand affordable and accessible services which support people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers;
· to advance improvements in Alabama’s overall system of care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and improve integration of the preferences and needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers into Alabama’s long term care system, as well as home and community based services.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services partnered with the University of Alabama’s Center for Mental Health and Aging, directed by Dr. Louis Burgio. RCI recognized that Alabama made monumental advancements through this initiative, by:

· improving caregiver and care recipient well-being
· promoting the REACH program statewide\
· engaging active volunteerism
· and proving the effectiveness of the REACH program in meeting the needs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Collins received the award jointly with Burgio. The award was presented at the RCI’s National Summit, held at Georgia Southwestern State University in late October. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was on hand to present the award and a check for $20,000 to continue the work of the Alabama REACH Project.

With funding from corporate partner Johnson & Johnson, the Rosalynn Carter Institute Caregivers Program provides more than $250,000 each year in grants to build partnerships between research and community-based organizations that have developed an evidence-based caregiver intervention.

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, established in 1987 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, works to establish partnerships to create more effective long-term care systems and provide greater recognition and support for America’s caregivers.