Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND – Members of the Wyoming and Montana Alzheimer’s task force visited Worland on Wednesday, visiting with 35 members of the community affected by the disease, and taking input on local needs to develop a state plan to support victims of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the national Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of adult dementia. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases in the United States, including one-third of those over the age of 80.
Facilitated by Robin Barry with the University of Wyoming Center for Aging, and led by Beki Glyde Brandborg of the Montana Alzheimer’s Work Group, the meeting concentrated on determining what services are currently offered, and which could be added to the health care system.
The Montana Alzheimer’s Work Group was established in June 2014 as a statewide partnership consisting of several key national, state, and local partners interested in improving care and support to Montanans with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, their families, and caregivers. The Work Group consists of over 40 members representing multiple industries or stakeholder groups including the Alzheimer’s Association, the Senior and Long-term Care Division of the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Governor’s Office.
As explained by Barry, Wyoming has adopted the working group model, to survey the needs of Alzheimer’s patients in the state.
Currently, Washakie County Public Health offers no Alzheimer’s support, according to Nursing Manager Amanda Heinemeyer, and the closest support group is located in Cody. The county also has no organized education for those affected by Alzheimer’s.
At Wednesday’s meeting, local citizens from surrounding communities outlined the pros and cons of the current system, for the Work Group, including the need for more education and facilities.
The group listed the Worland Rehab memory care unit, the Greybull Senior Center, the Worland Senior Center, local Meals on Wheels programs, certified nursing services and local doctors as positives for the local area.
On the negative side, the group listed the lack of education and support groups, a lack of certified nursing assistants at the senior centers, a lack of feedback from the State Behavioral Institute, and no program dedicated solely to Alzheimer’s at local hospitals.
The group felt that Alzheimer’s education for local caregivers would be helpful, along with an increase in qualified caregivers in the area.
“The information we receive in these work groups will help us determine which programs are working, and what the state needs to develop,” said Barry, at the conclusion of the meeting.
For more information on Alzheimer’s and developing support in the area, please visit http://www.mtalzplan.com or contact the Wyoming Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900.
