Introduction
Patients with Alzheimer’s need care as they lose some of their bodily functions. The government has assigned resources that can be used to provide care for them. These resources may be given to the patients themselves or their caregivers. Whichever way they are administered, these resources enable the patients to be more comfortable and help manage the illness. Three of the national resources for the Alzheimer’s illness group are;
The Alzheimer’s Association and helpline. This voluntary group is created to focus solely on people with Alzheimer’s disease. This group provides information about the condition and how it can be managed. It gives tips and advice on how family members can provide care for their sick members. It also offers a platform where caregivers can support each other in case they feel overwhelmed when providing care services.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. This non-profit organization’s primary mission is to provide support, service, and education to individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Funding institutions and researching the treatment and cure of Alzheimer’s disease are some of their functions. They also provide information about the illness and help patients living with it.
Dementia Alliance International. This group was created specifically for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. It helps people with Alzheimer’s by creating a YouTube series that educates and provides more information about the illness.
Information the Patient Should Know
Patients should familiarize themselves with the group’s mission and vision. They should do this to ensure they join association groups that match their goals and objectives. Familiarizing with their diagnosis is also required to relay the information to the caregivers. Families and patients should also know the principles and practices of quality care for individuals with dementia (Fazio et al., 2018). The amount of payment and the payment methods provided by the group is also a consideration they should make.
Benefits
Having these resources is beneficial to Alzheimer’s patients and their family members. Joining these groups ensures that patients feel understood and appreciated. Patients with the same disease feel less alone and stressed when they meet people suffering from the same condition. They provide specialists such as neurologists, physicians, and therapists, aiming to provide care and improve their members’ lives. By joining these resource facilities, patients can access these specialists at a lower cost than if they attended hospitals.
Numerous and limitless information about the illness can be found on their websites. These groups create a platform for patients and family members to become more knowledgeable about the disease. This is helpful when families are new to the group or have a new patient. A library of information is provided to educate them on better caregiving and understanding the patient.
These associations share information on how patients can access healthcare and also payment methods that patients can use. They can also help by raising funds that cater to some patients’ needs in case they lack medical insurance. They present a platform for social networking, and patients get to meet new people who may assist them in coping throughout the treatment.
Specific Services
These groups offer specific services: homecare visits, home adaptations, enrollment in day centers, replacement care, and support from professionals. Professionals provided by the groups are dementia specialist nurses, doctors, physicians, and geriatricians. These specialists work with patients by checking their general health, stimulating their brains, and offering behavioral therapy interventions. Other services offered are support groups, counseling services, and information tailored to one’s needs.
Fee Schedules
A fee schedule is a comprehensive listing of fees used by Medicare to pay their service providers, such as doctors and physicians. Many of these associations have a low membership fee, meaning that family members who wish to join the associations require a low entrance fee. The only time a patient pays is when they access other services like medical services. In order to get assistance from a physician the group provides, one will need to pay for the services. Payments may be through insurance coverage, automatic payments, or cards.
Criteria for Eligibility and Application Process
The criteria for eligibility into these resource groups is that one needs to be a patient with Alzheimer’s or suffer from the disease. This ensures that the Alzheimer’s Association membership is given to the right person. Those who need the information get it firsthand, and the chances of frauds joining the group are reduced. It guarantees that the association and its members are joining it for a good cause and not for profitability reasons.
The application process involves filling out a form with all the necessary information. This may be made through an online platform through their official website. Physically visiting their headquarters is also a way to acquire the forms. Once the documents are submitted and reviewed, candidates can find out if they are accepted through a message or official email from the group.
Availability of Transportation
If group members have appointments with physicians or doctors, they are assigned shuttles that transport them from their homes to the facilities. Many patients have memory loss issues, so getting lost can be very easy. To ensure this does not happen, committees and event planners provide transport services for the members. They also hire caregivers in the facilities to have someone looking out for patients throughout the sessions.
Integration of the Resources into a Plan of Care
These resources are integrated into the care plan by talking about them to the patient. People with dementia want to maintain their sense of personal identity and quality of life; they wish to retain independence by continuing daily tasks and making decisions about their future. Talking to them about plans to enroll them in the institutions and groups makes them feel appreciated and involved. Once the patients accept to be registered, they can be helped to meet with other people and enjoy their membership benefits.
Advantages for Vulnerable Populations in Seeking These Resources
The resources provide a platform where members feel understood and involved. They also offer a platform where there is experimental learning. This means patients can learn for themselves about the disease and even solve some of the issues they may be experiencing alone (Mason et al.,2022). It is advantageous to patients as they can access physical or virtual support groups that motivate them, thus acting as therapy sessions when they need someone to talk to.
Disadvantages for Vulnerable Populations in Seeking These Resources
Patients may feel overwhelmed by the group, especially if they dislike crowds. This may be due to feelings of anxiety and social withdrawal. Lack of physical abilities may hinder them from having whole experience with other group members as they are limited in what they can and cannot do (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). Some may also be unable to raise the funds needed to join the group or access the services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, many associations are always open in case patients need help. The organization’s helpline enables patients and caregivers to access medical care and treatment throughout the day. This means that they can call the organization at any time and be able to talk to a professional and get help when they need it.
References
Alzheimer’s Association (2019) Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 15(3), 321–387. Web.
Fazio, S., Pace, D., Maslow, K., Zimmerman, S., & Kallmyer, B. (2018). Alzheimer’s Association dementia care practice recommendations. The Gerontologist, 58(1). S1-S9. Web.
Mason, N. F., Francis, D. B., & Pecchioni, L. L. (2022). Health information seeking as a coping strategy to reduce Alzheimer’s caregivers’ stress. Health Communication, 37(2), 131-140. Web.