Developing community-wide support for individuals living alone with dementia

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4128.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #43343

Barbara J. Newhouse, MS, LBSW¹, Lisa Niebuhr², Tina Stroud³, Eric Newhouse³, and Lisa Niebuhr¹. (1) Alzheimer's Association, 919 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60611-1676, (2) Chapter Services Division, Alzheimer's Association, 919 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60611-1676, 712 546 8827, barbara.newhouse@alz.org, (3) Big Sioux Chapter, Alzheimer's Association, 522 4th St, Lower Level, P. O. Box 3716, Sioux City, IA 51102-3716

Older Americans who live alone are often forgotten, although their numbers are increasing and they are particularly vulnerable when faced with a chronic illness such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). An estimated one-fifth of individuals with some form of dementia live alone; the challenge facing most communities is how to first identify, and then respond to, this population in a way that preserves their independence and dignity to the safest possible extent. The challenges presented by AD and other dementias can be demanding on caregivers working to keep their loved ones at home, but when there is no regular caregiver, cognitively impaired "live alones" have little or no outside help in maintaining their safety and well-being, only coming to the attention of health care providers in crisis situations. The Big Sioux Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association realized that addressing the needs of "live alones" transcended the scope of any single agency. Building on the work of Katie Maslow and others in the District of Columbia, the Chapter mobilized a diverse group of both service providers and other local stakeholders in order to develop a proactive, community-wide plan to identify and assist local live alones. Central to the plan's development was the prioritization of community specific problem issues when working with live alones, and the evolution of action steps with these challenges in mind. The resulting plan has since been replicated in rural Iowa as part of a federal AD demonstration grant.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this session, participants will be able to

1) Understand and discuss the demographic characteristics of individuals with dementia who live alone, as well as some of the challenges faced by medical and health care professionals in identifying and effectively serving these populations.
2) Identify strategies used to mobilize community resources for responding to the unique needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who live alone.
3) Develop a plan for convening the appropriate stakeholders as well identifying challenges and possible solutions in working with live alones in both urban and rural communities.

Keywords: Dementia, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Models of Community-based Care: Keeping Elders in Their Homes

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA