248305 Emergency and Scheduled Respite Care for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Monday, October 31, 2011: 9:24 AM

Jennifer Covino , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Olivia Carpinello , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Bridget Collins , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Daniel Fischer , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Angelica Santos , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Kyle Schoppel , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Aleksey Tadevosyan , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
William Pendlebury, MD , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Linda Martinez, RN , Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, VT, Colchester, VT
Thomas V. Delaney, PhD , Dept. of Pediatrics, UVM College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Jan K. Carney, MD MPH , Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
     
Background:As the population of elderly citizens in the U.S. expands, paralleled by an increase in the prevalence of dementia, the role of respite care within the healthcare system will increase in importance and demand. While studies have shown that respite care is effective, there is an unmet need for more flexibility in existing programs to improve utilization rates and availability.

Objective: To integrate the needs of key agencies and develop a program geared toward emergency and scheduled respite for caregivers of individuals with dementia. Our program focused on the creation of pilot that would rely on volunteers from the community and include: funding, training, and administration.

Methods:Discussions with key agencies invested in the well being of patients with dementia and their caregivers were begun. An electronic survey to assess volunteer interest was created in Survey Monkey and distributed electronically throughout the community.

Results:The results from our survey demonstrate feasibility for a volunteer-based program. 71 out of 96 individuals responding indicated that they would be willing to volunteer. Data also demonstrated volunteer interest in providing emergency (N=31) and scheduled respite care (N=45), an array of availability (42% day, 50% evening and 8% overnight), and regular commitment (45% weekly, 34% bi-monthly, 21% monthly).

Discussion: We conclude that there is a volunteer interest in this service and feasibility for a volunteer-based program. Moreover, our group has identified potential community partners and fiscal resources that should be further pursued to bring this much needed service to the community at large.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Define the role of respite care in health care settings as the population ages and prevalence of dementia increases 2. Describe practical strategies to integrate needs of agencies, individuals, and caregivers to develop a community-based program 3. Formulate strategies to fund and implement a volunteer-based program in communities

Keywords: Service Integration, Dementia

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Design, implementation, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, and presentation of project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Alzheimer’s Disease / Dementia
See more of: Aging & Public Health