Coalition Provides Insights into Caring for Persons with Cognitive Impairment in Emergencies

Washington, D.C. – A coalition* of long-term care and consumer organizations released a new guide to providing care for persons with dementia during emergencies, such as a major disease outbreak, hurricane or fire.

Care practices in the guide are for nonlicensed staff of nursing facilities, assisted living residences or other residential care settings as well as lay people, such as volunteers, who may become involved more directly in care giving during an emergency.

“In stressful times, when change is occurring, it is especially important that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia receive consistent, effective care,” said Peter Reed, Ph.D., director of care services for the Alzheimer’s Association. “In unfamiliar situations, there is increased risk for wandering and agitated or inappropriate behaviors. This new guide provides basic and reliable care guidelines that can be incorporated into planning and training for providing high-quality dementia care, even in difficult times.”

Since an average of 50 percent of a facility’s residents and patients have some form of dementia and decreased cognitive ability, these persons require special assistance during an emergency. Each facility needs to adapt procedures based on its unique features and circumstances and the population it cares for, and this guide is a roadmap that allows that flexibility.

The Web-based training document is available at http://www.alz.org/Resources/FactSheets.asp#pqr.

The Dementia Care Training Guide is a companion to previous work completed by the coalition at the behest of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop resources for health professionals, government and business leaders and individuals, especially relating to an influenza epidemic or pandemic (available at http://pandemicflu.gov/). The previous work of this coalition completed for the HHS/CDC project is available at Long-Term Care and Other Residential Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist.

* The coalition includes: the Alzheimer’s Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), American Health Quality Association (AHQA), American Medical Directors Association (AMDA), National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (NADONA), American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

The Alzheimer’s Association, the nonprofit world leader in Alzheimer’s research and support, is the first and largest U.S. voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s. For more than 25 years, the donor-supported Alzheimer’s Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. Homepage at www.alz.org.

Contact: Niles Frantz, associate director, public relations, at 312.335.5777 or niles.frantz@alz.org

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and its membership serves 2 million people every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. Its members offer the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. AAHSA's commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust.

Contact: Lauren Shaham, director of media relations, at 202.508.1219 or lshaham@aahsa.org

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) and its membership is committed to performance excellence and Quality First, a covenant for healthy, affordable and ethical long-term care. AHCA/NCAL represent nearly 11,000 nonprofit and proprietary facilities dedicated to continuous improvement in the delivery of professional and compassionate care provided daily by millions of caring employees to more than 1.5 million of our nation's frail, elderly and disabled citizens who live in nursing facilities, assisted living residences, subacute centers and homes for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Contact: Tom Burke, senior director, public Relations, at 202.898.2814 or tburke@ahca.org

The American Health Quality Association (AHQA) is dedicated to improving the safety and effectiveness of health care. AHQA represents the national network of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) that work with long-term care facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, medical practices, health plans, pharmacists and employers to encourage the spread of best clinical practices and improve systems of care delivery.

Contact: Jennifer Felsher, associate, public affairs, at 202.261.7565 or jfelsher@ahqa.org

The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) is the national professional association committed to continuous improvement of the quality of patient care by providing education, advocacy, information and professional development for medical directors and other physicians who practice across the long-term care continuum.

Contact: Jacqueline Vance, RNC, director, clinical affairs, at 410.992.3105 or http://alz.org/media/newsreleases/2006/%5C

With over 7,000 members, the National Association of Directors of Nursing/LTC (NADONA) is the largest educational organization committed exclusively to nursing and administration professionals in the long-term care and assisted living professions. Its members enjoy many benefits, including NADONA Online University, DON certification and the Mentor for Members hotline.

Contact: Gary Warden, NADONA, at 1.800.222.0539 or gary@nadona.org