Alzheimer?s Association launches online assessment program
The Alzheimer’s Association recently launched a new online assessment program, Alzheimer’s Navigator, to help caregivers and people with dementia evaluate their needs, identify action steps and connect with local programs and services. Developed with the feedback of people living with Alzheimer’s and caregivers, Alzheimer’s Navigator also allows users to reassess needs and adjust care plans as the disease progresses.
There are currently 5.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Navigator is another resource from the Alzheimer’s Association to ensure those impacted by the disease are able to develop evolving, interactive care management plans in a format that works for them.
“When facing Alzheimer’s disease, there are a lot of things to consider. The journey can be overwhelming and confusing. The Alzheimer’s Association can help you figure out your next steps. By simply completing a series of short surveys, Alzheimer’s Navigator™, will help create a customized Action Plan will include: Step-by-step guidance, Alzheimer’s disease information you can trust and programs and services in your community,” said Joan Litwitz, Program Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter.
Following a brief welcome survey, Alzheimer’s Navigator users complete a set of focused questions. Their responses identify topics that warrant further exploration ranging from activities of daily life to legal and financial planning to safety precautions. Then users are taken to their personal webpage or “dashboard” where they will find a customized action plan detailing next steps and suggested resources. For example, AZLConnected, the Alzheimer’s Association social network community, might be suggested if the user is seeking the moral support of peers but is unable to attend in-person support groups. When local resources are needed, Alzheimer’s Navigator works in conjunction with Community Resource Finder, an online search engine, to locate community programs, services and resources such as adult day care or long-term care facilities.
Users can also create and manage care teams so that multiple people can access and participate in the customized action plan, enabling long-distance caregivers to partake and primary caregivers to share the responsibility.
The Alzheimer’s Association will continue to assist families in a variety of ways to best meet their needs. Alzheimer’s Association chapters nationwide facilitate more than 4,500 support groups and conduct 20,000 education programs annually. The Alzheimer’s Association provides consultation to 250,000 people in need each year through its toll-free 24/7 Helpline, (800) 272-3900. The only one of its kind, the Helpline is staffed by masters-level counselors and provides information and guidance in more than 170 languages and dialects.
For more information, visit alzheimersnavigator.org.
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