Grant funds Alzheimer's Eduction
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Tim O'Bayley, O'Bayley Communications, 760/778-3525 tim@obayley.net or
Donna Craig, Chief Program Officer, Desert Healthcare District, 760/323-6700
$71,000 DISTRICT GRANT TO FUND ALZHEIMER'S OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAM
Local Alzheimer's Association Receives Grant for Dementia Prevention Program in Latino Community
PALM SPRINGS, CA; FEBRUARY 25, 2010: A $71,000 grant from Desert Healthcare District to the Alzheimer's Association will fund the Latino Outreach Project a year-long campaign that aims to reduce the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementia among the local Latino population. Reports show that Latino populations are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and the accompanying conditions. Diabetes can increase risk for dementia by 65%.
"Many people don't know there are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia," said Glen Grayman, MD and Board President of Desert Healthcare District. "The local Latino population, which represents approximately 35% of District residents, is at higher risk for developing these types of conditions because of the higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and related diseases. The District Board strongly supports this program at the Alzheimer's Association because it is designed to improve the health of District residents by reducing these risk factors among the Latino community."
The Latino Outreach Project was planned based on the findings of a 2006 health needs assessment conducted by the Latino Outreach Network when 1,000 responders were surveyed. The Latino Outreach Project is a collaboration of health, social service, education, and government agencies.
"When the assessment project was conducted in 2006, it was determined that the primary needs for improving the Latino community's health were health education and awareness of local health-related resources, and that's what these funds will accomplish," said Linda Alexander-Lieblang, Director for Regions for the Alzheimer's Association. "We designed this program to maximize awareness of the research that strongly indicates there are specific risk factors that can lead to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia."
The grant will be utilized by the Alzheimer's Association to continue to collaborate with the Latino Outreach Network to maximize the delivery of services through proactive referrals and connections; plan and coordinate health fairs, workshops and classes targeting Latino families with culturally appropriate health education; develop educational materials and workshop modules; and train community health and service providers to deliver culturally competent health services. Additionally, the Association will conduct community outreach and education activities, hold a full-day conference for the local healthcare workforce, hire a bilingual/bicultural project coordinator (a Latino Care Advocate), and implement a monitoring study to track specific families' health during the next three years. Altogether, the Alzheimer's Association estimates at least 1,680 people will be impacted by the project.
"The Alzheimer's Association has an established history of developing and implementing programs specifically targeting underserved populations that require culturally and linguistically competent services to help cope with the disease and other dementias," adds Alexander-Lieblang. "This project will replicate and utilize elements of the Association's successful El Portal program for Latino outreach and community health education, and apply it to the Latino communities in Riverside County."
The Alzheimer's Association Coachella Valley Regional Office serves the entire Coachella Valley from Banning to Blythe and the High Desert, reaching out to an estimated 11,000 people with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Free programs, services, and support groups are available in both English and Spanish. Offices are located at 69-730 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage.
Desert Healthcare District is a government agency, established by the state of California in 1948, to improve and support community health programs within a 457-square mile service area in the Coachella Valley. The District also owns and oversees the lease of Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
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