TFAD Recommendation #5
Dementia Care Specialist (DCS) Program
This could be exciting for rural Nevada.
The DCS would draw on the best practices nationwide as a potential model for this proposed program. It would follow the guidelines of the Wisconsin Dementia Care Specialist program. With legislative support (funding) professionals in trial counties professionals would support people living with dementia including intervention to decrease depression and related symptoms of distress. There are 3 pillars:
1. Train staff and other county and municipal offices to assist in becoming dementia capable;
2. Help communities become dementia-friendly, enabling people living with dementia to remain active and safe and their caregivers to feel supported;
3. Provide education and support to people with memory concerns or dementia and their families.
DCS is proactive by working with all people living with dementia and their families to create individual care plans as well as crisis prevention and preparation plans to prevent initial crisis from occurring. DCS will work to build dementia capability within the community to ensure the highest quality of life while living at home. To accomplish this the DCS embedded in each county will:
· Provide free information and assistance to adults with memory or cognitive concerns as well as those who have been given a dementia diagnosis;
· Provide information, education, and support to family members and friends who care for people living with dementia and/or memory loss;
· Help develop dementia-friendly communities where people living with dementia can remain active and safe;
· Train resource managers in Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and other county and municipal offices to be more dementia capable.
DCS team members will serve as the primary, local contact for people living with dementia, their caregivers, law enforcement, hospitals, healthcare professionals, community social workers, and other community members who encounter individuals who may have dementia. They will conduct memory screenings; facilitate obtaining an accurate diagnosis; provide information and assistance to connect families with community support services, provided evidence-based and/or evidence-informed, person- and relationship-centered education, training, and support; connect peo0ple with options for counseling as well as access to public and private programs and benefits; provide consumer advocacy; lead and facilitate dementia-friendly efforts in coordination and partnership with Dementia Friendly Nevada; conduct other outreach activities with an aim to bring additional dementia-related services to the region.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if Winnemucca and Humboldt County are part of the trial-run??
Information from Wisconsin ADRC Dementia Care Specialist
ADRC: Support for People with Dementia and their Caregivers
Many people with dementia live at home. But dementia can cause challenges—both for people with the condition and their caregivers. Our program for dementia care offers support. Our dementia care specialists work to improve the quality of life for people with the condition who are living at home. They also support caregivers.
What do dementia care specialists do?
Dementia care specialists provide:
Free information and support to adults with dementia and their caregivers.
Independence. Dementia care specialists can help connect you with things to do in your community so you can stay involved.
Memory screenings. Dementia care specialists can perform memory screenings. These are tools to help identify changes to memory and cognition. If the screening shows memory loss, a specialist may refer you to a doctor.
Social opportunities. Dementia care specialists can help you find social activities, such as those involving music and art.
Care planning assistance. Dementia care specialists can help you with where you are now—and help you plan for the future.
Support group connection. Dementia care specialists can connect you with caregiver support groups where you live.
Help creating places where people with dementia can remain active and safe.
Memory cafés. Dementia care specialists form and support meeting places for those with memory loss and their caregivers. These cafés let people share experiences and connect.
Dementia-friendly businesses. Dementia care specialists train businesses to better understand how to support customers with dementia.
Coalitions. Dementia care specialists support community groups focused to dementia initiatives.
Webinar recordings
We’ve hosted monthly webinars for people living with dementia and their caregivers. They include easy-to-use tools and resources for families. Each webinar is about 45 minutes to one hour long.
You can access these whenever you’d like:
Where can I find a dementia care specialist?
Dementia care specialists are available across the state. They work for the aging and disability resource center (ADRC) in your area.
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