Alzheimer’s Association Advances Dementia Care Navigation to Improve Patient Support
Alzheimer’s Association Advances Dementia Care Navigation to Improve Patient Support
In an effort to enhance patient care and coordination for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the Alzheimer’s Association has established a standardized framework for dementia care navigation. Dementia care navigators play a crucial role in guiding patients and their families through the complexities of the healthcare system, ensuring they receive appropriate treatment and support.
To encourage the widespread adoption of coordinated care models, the Alzheimer’s Association convened an expert workgroup of researchers to define consistent dementia care navigation. Their findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions (TRCI), outline seven essential principles for dementia care navigation that emphasize person-centered care.
According to the workgroup, effective dementia care navigation should:
• Be person- and family-centered to foster collaboration and engagement.
• Be culturally responsive and address disparities in healthcare access and support services.
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities for all members of the dementia care navigation team.
• Address barriers related to medical, legal, financial, emotional, and other challenges faced by individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
• Provide coaching, education, and coordination that is empowering, solution-focused, and strengths-based.
• Focus on the family unit as defined by the person living with dementia.
• Ensure that processes and protocols are evidence-based.
Dementia Care Navigation Roundtable
Building upon this framework, the Alzheimer’s Association leads a Dementia Care Navigation Roundtable, bringing together health systems, payers, and dementia experts to develop standardized processes and protocols for dementia care navigation.
The Roundtable is working to refine patient navigation programs based on the established principles while gathering additional evidence to enhance their implementation across all care settings. The group aims to define the need for dementia care navigators and establish best practices for integrating this framework into healthcare systems nationwide.
For additional details about the Dementia Care Navigation Guidelines, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at dementiacarenavigation@alz.org.
Contact: Lionell Martin, Public Relations Manager, Alzheimer’s Association, lrmartin@alz.org, 773.593.4211.
About the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) that is available 365 days a year. Specialists and master’s-level clinicians provide confidential support and information to individuals living with dementia, caregivers, families, and the public.
Latest Stories
- HABILITATIVE SYSTEMS, INC. HOSTS RIBBON CUTTING FOR RENOVATED HEADQUARTERS
- The Rich Get Richer, and the Poor Get Poorer
- Alzheimer’s Association Advances Dementia Care Navigation to Improve Patient Support
- Preparing Financially for Future Emergencies: Building Resilience and Readiness
- Ingrid LaVon Launches Tequila Brand That Creates Legacy And Empowers Women
Latest Podcast
On The 9 Run Crew
