URGENT CALL TO ACTION - GOVERNOR’S BUDGET CUTS WILL HURT CAREGIVERS

Part of the Governor’s $3.3 billion budget reduction proposal includes elimination of adult day health care (ADHC) as a MediCal benefit. This will negatively impact thousands of caregivers throughout the state and may impact someone you know and love.

As Orange County’s only Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center provides dementia-specific adult day health care services to individuals from the earliest to the most advanced stages of dementia. For example, each year, AFSC serves 20-plus participants who have been denied services at or discharged from sister adult day centers due to difficult-to-manage behaviors such as wandering or aggressiveness. In some cases, AFSC has been able to continue care of such severely impaired individuals for up to two additional years, delaying institutionalization.

Sam, a 77-year-old, African American male with dementia, was found living alone in his rat-infested home, without proper care, little food to eat, and driving unsafely. Sam moved in with his son and daughter-in-law, who couldn’t stop working to provide the round-the-clock supervision Sam needs. Sam had already been found wandering around the community unable to find his way home. Reliant on MediCal for Sam’s care, his family was able to access the adult day health care benefit. If this benefit hadn’t existed, Sam’s family would have had to institutionalize him at much greater cost to MediCal. In addition to dementia, Sam has chronic renal disease, anemia, and hypertension. Our nurses monitor these conditions and immediately report symptoms of concern to his physician, so that Sam doesn’t end up hospitalized. Daily physical and occupational therapy exercises help Sam maintain everyday abilities, such as walking independently, making it easier for his family to continue care at home. As well, Sam and his family benefit from access to a social worker, who helps Sam’s family problem-solve difficult situations, such as managing Sam’s wandering.

Within the context of a stimulating program of recreational activities, adult day health care participants receive multiple health-related services, including nursing and personal care, physical, occupational and speech therapy, care management, nutritional oversight, based on an individual plan of care designed to maximize independence.

At Alzheimer’s Family Services Center, participants have an average of 6 health conditions, including dementia, and are taking an average of 7 medications daily. By managing these conditions in coordination with each participant’s family and primary care physician via comprehensive adult day health care services, AFSC is preventing institutionalization – which improves quality of life for the individual and reduces the cost of care for the state. Clearly, the Governor has not taken into account the cost shift to nursing homes that will occur if the MediCal adult day health care benefit is lost.

I urge you to preserve the adult day health care benefit which is keeping thousands of our most frail Californians out of the institutional setting and reducing the cost of long-term care for the state. You can help by writing a letter and asking the legislature to SAVE THE ADHC program. You can find your legislator at http://www.legislature.ca.gov.

Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Family Services Center Receives Coveted Peace Maker Award

(Huntington Beach, CA)— Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is proud to announce that on Thursday, May 7, 2009, Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., Executive Director, was honored with the 2009 Peace Maker Award from the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council during the National Day of Prayer celebration.

The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council is a gathering of representatives from faith communities and other interested groups who meet for the purpose of (1) respecting, understanding and celebrating our spiritual and cultural diversity and (2) serving people. The council envisions a community of tolerance, peace, understanding and love. In light of this vision, Dr. Dick-Muehlke was selected to receive this prestigious award given her tireless efforts to provide love and acceptance for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s or another dementia during her 15-year tenure as AFSC executive director. While AFSC has been operating for nearly 30 years, the center has been located in and serving the residents of Huntington Beach for the last decade.

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is dedicated to improving quality of life for families challenged by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia through services tailored to meet individual needs. We achieve this mission through direct care, family support, and education services, designed to address the complex and changing needs of families as Alzheimer’s disease progresses from the earliest to most advanced stages. An independent, nonprofit organization, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is affiliated with the Hoag Neurosciences Center of Excellence.

To learn more about the center, call (714) 593-9630 or visit www.AFSCenter.org.

Photo: LtR – Celine Keeble, Jan Stephenson, Jack Stephenson, Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., Malcolm Dick, Ph.D., Anita Rodriguez-Lambert

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center Featured in HBO Special – The Alzheimer’s Project

(Huntington Beach, CA)— Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is proud to be featured in the unique HBO series aiming to change how people think about Alzheimer’s. HBO initiated The Alzheimer’s Project to raise awareness and funding to find a cure. This unprecedented series of four documentaries, aired May 10-12, is now available online at www.HBO.com/alzheimers.

The Alzheimer’s Project begins with "The Memory Loss Tapes,” an up-close and personal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer's, across the full spectrum of the disease."Momentum In Science, a two-part state-of-the-science film, takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians, revealing some of the most cutting-edge research advances. "'Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?” with Maria Shriver captures what it means to be a child or grandchild of one with Alzheimer's, while "Caregivers" highlights the sacrifices and successes of people who experience a loved one's descent into dementia.

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center board member Terry McKenna and his wife Suzanne Caffey-McKenna participated in the fourth and final documentary, “Caregivers.” Terry and Suzanne share the story of their new life together after many years of Terry caring for his late wife, Pat, who died of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, viewers see Terry and Suzanne interacting with participants at the center as they explain why they support AFSC.

“We are truly grateful to HBO for including AFSC in such an innovative project. We loved working with all of the HBO staff to make this happen. Moreover, we consider ourselves lucky to have Terry and Suzanne so supportive of our center and thank them for their willingness to share their story,” stated Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., Executive Director of AFSC.

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is dedicated to improving quality of life for families challenged by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia through services tailored to meet individual needs. We achieve this mission through direct care, family support, and education services, designed to address the complex and changing needs of families as Alzheimer’s disease progresses from the earliest to most advanced stages. An independent, nonprofit organization, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center is affiliated with the Neurosciences Center of Excellence.

To learn more about the center, call (714) 593-9630 or visit www.AFSCenter.org.

Photo: LtR – Bill Couturié, Director/Producer; Terry McKenna; Anne Sandkuhler, Producer; Suzanne Caffey-McKenna, and Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center.