Crisis Respite 

BACKGROUND & SERVICES:

The Alzheimer's Family Center, Inc., founded in 1986, is a not-for-profit organization “dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders”.  Our Center is the exclusive not-for-profit provider of in-home respite services specifically for Alzheimer’s disease caregivers living in northern Broward County.  Our services include case management, in-home counseling, respite care, volunteer companionship, crisis respite, support groups, education, information & referral, and an intergenerational program.

Recently, our agency, in collaboration with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), announced a new program entitled “Project Lifesaver”.  The new program, almost two years in the planning and coordination stages, has become a reality in the cities of Margate, Tamarac, Lauderdale Lakes and Pompano Beach.  Project Lifesaver is a public-safety program to locate at-risk persons that may wander. This includes Alzheimer’s victims as well as individuals stricken with Down’s, Autism or other medical or disabling conditions that may cause one to wander away from a caregiver.  A bracelet is affixed to the ankle or wrist of the individual; if they wander, BSO can track the frequency of the device similar to the Lo-Jack system for cars.

Over the years, the needs of the senior community have evolved; the demand for services is increasing steadily.

OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM:

In-Home Respite is one of the most valued and needed services for family caregivers. Through subcontract agreements with several home health agencies, our Center is able to furnish trained, experienced aides to a client’s home. This relieves the family caregiver to attend to other matters: social activities, personal errands, doctor’s appointments, or much needed rest and relaxation. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible disorder. Eventually, as the disease progresses, the person becomes increasingly unable to care for him/herself and is also unable to recognize potentially dangerous situations. As a result, the individual with Alzheimer’s disease requires more and more care. This is a huge responsibility for anyone, but care-giving is especially taxing to older persons whose own health may be deteriorating. The relentless care-giving robs the caregiver of the opportunity to attend to his/her own social, emotional, financial and physical needs.

Without some type of respite, caregivers are unable to provide appropriate care to family members. Respite helps to maintain the person with Alzheimer’s disease in a setting where they are familiar and comfortable and cared for by someone that loves them. Without respite, the caregiver’s health and well-being suffers and, as a result, the person with Alzheimer’s disease may not be cared for adequately or may be placed in an institutional environment prematurely.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS OF THE PROGRAM:
The goals of the Alzheimer's Family Center are:

These goals are accomplished by:

1. Providing eligible families with in-home support ( i.e., respite, emergency services, counseling, companionship of volunteers.
2. Providing families with information about Alzheimer’s disease and community resources available to them.
3. Linking families with other community resources to meet identified needs (i.e. through case management)
4. Educating the public about Alzheimer’s disease

Statement of Need:

Over the years, as the needs in the Broward County community have evolved, the Alzheimer’s Family Center has focused on the provision of in-home services to caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness impacting an estimated 40,000 persons in Broward County alone. Of those, it is estimated that 80% (32.000) are cared for at home by a family member (Alzheimer’s Association Statistics).

As with all fatal diseases, the onset of Alzheimer’s disease is met with denial and emotional upheaval. However, this happens at a time in a caregiver’s life when their own health is suffering. Friends and families often turn their backs in fright and frustration, leaving the caregiver with little or no support. As a result, the caregiver is left to struggle relentlessly, over a period of time that can last as long as 20 years, with this heartbreak. The result? Sometimes, physical and emotional abuse of the person with the disease. Sometimes, physical deterioration in the caregiver such that s/he predeceases the person with the disease. Sometimes, poor care-giving, leaving the person with the disease in an unsafe situation with tragic results. Sometimes, inappropriate placement in an institution. Sometimes, premature placement in a residential setting.

PROGRAM CRITERIA:

In-home respite care targets adults (usually spouses or adult children) residing in Broward County who are caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease in their home.  The caregiver experiences some type of emotional dysfunction that can be alleviated through a therapeutic relationship.  Due to lack of transportation, care-giving responsibilities, financial restraints, or other reasons, the caregiver is unable to access traditional community services.  The acceptance criteria for the service are: 1) primary in-home caregiver to a person with Alzheimer’s disease or related memory disorder, 2) not a hired caregiver, 3) have difficulty accessing community based services due to demands of care-giving, transportation constraints, or other reason, 4) resident of Broward County, 5) express/demonstrate difficulty coping or managing emotions related to caregiver role.

Qualifications:

The Alzheimer’s Family Center has been providing supportive services since 1986 to Broward County families caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.  The amount and types of service provided have increased each year of the agency’s operation.  With additional service has come increased costs, and the agency has been able each year to meet its expenses. 

The agency is led by an 20-member volunteer Board of Directors.  The Executive Director, Joyce M. Karney, has over 20 years of experience in health care administration and has been with the agency for over 10 years.  Our Program Coordinator is Lisa Liin, a licensed, Masters’ level social worker that has held this position for almost eleven years.

PROGRAM DIVERSITY:

The agency constantly strives to be sensitive to the diverse cultural needs of Broward County residents. As the agency subcontracts for its core service, in-home respite, one of the considerations for contract granting is the home health agency’s ability to respond to a variety of clients. This is generally not a problem as home health agencies in this area hire many foreign born individuals. Since the majority of the agency’s programs provide services to clients in their homes, this eliminates many of the accessibility issues inherent in other types of community programming.  Outreach activities are diverse; the agency strives to inform individuals in all Broward County communities about the programs and services offered by the agency.

In soliciting and training volunteers for our companion program, a diverse population is sought. Currently, we have volunteers that speak, Spanish, French, German & Hebrew.

FUNDING:

Despite recent severe funding cuts, we anticipate that the State of Florida will continue funding through the Alzheimer’s Disease Imitative (ADI) program.  Additional monies will be sought through private foundations and fundraising endeavors.

Contact the Alzheimer's Family Center for more information.

(954) 971-7155

©2009 Alzheimer's Family Center Inc.