The Alter Program

Epps, Fayron; Moore, Miranda; Chester, Mia; Gore, Janelle; Sainz, Mayra; Adkins, Aisha; Clevenger, Carolyn; Aycock, Dawn M.

doi:10.1097/naq.0000000000000506

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

(78 reference statements)

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“…Epps described Alter, a faith-based community program. Epps and her colleagues launched Alter in 2019 to encourage culture change, shift perceptions about dementia, and strengthen support services within and in partnership with African American churches (Epps et al, 2019(Epps et al, , 2020a(Epps et al, , 2021(Epps et al, , 2022Gore et al, 2022). 19 Epps pointed PREPUBLICATION COPY-Uncorrected Proofs out that Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are the fourth leading cause of death among older African Americans.…”

Section: Providing Effective Support For Family Caregivers a Dementia...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Caregiving for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses

2023

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Section: Providing Effective Support For Family Caregivers a Dementia...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Caregiving for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses

2023

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Global rural health disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: State of the science

Wiese,

Gibson,

Guest

et al. 2023

Alzheimer's & Dementia

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INTRODUCTIONIndividuals living in rural communities are at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), which parallels other persistent place‐based health disparities. Identifying multiple potentially modifiable risk factors specific to rural areas that contribute to ADRD is an essential first step in understanding the complex interplay between various barriers and facilitators.METHODSAn interdisciplinary, international group of ADRD researchers convened to address the overarching question of: “What can be done to begin minimizing the rural health disparities that contribute uniquely to ADRD?” In this state of the science appraisal, we explore what is known about the biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences on ADRD disparities in rural settings.RESULTSA range of individual, interpersonal, and community factors were identified, including strengths of rural residents in facilitating healthy aging lifestyle interventions.DISCUSSIONA location dynamics model and ADRD‐focused future directions are offered for guiding rural practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in mitigating rural disparities.HIGHLIGHTS Rural residents face heightened Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) risks and burdens due to health disparities. Defining the unique rural barriers and facilitators to cognitive health yields insight. The strengths and resilience of rural residents can mitigate ADRD‐related challenges. A novel “location dynamics” model guides assessment of rural‐specific ADRD issues.

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2024 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

2024

Alzheimer's & Dementia

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This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care and the ramifications of AD for family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report discusses the larger health care system for older adults with cognitive issues, focusing on the role of caregivers and non‐physician health care professionals. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure AD. Official AD death certificates recorded 119,399 deaths from AD in 2021. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID‐19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's was the seventh‐leading cause of death in the United States. Official counts for more recent years are still being compiled. Alzheimer's remains the fifth‐leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 140%. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2023. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $346.6 billion in 2023. Its costs, however, extend to unpaid caregivers’ increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes. Members of the paid health care and broader community‐based workforce are involved in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with dementia. However, the United States faces growing shortages across different segments of the dementia care workforce due to a combination of factors, including the absolute increase in the number of people living with dementia. Therefore, targeted programs and care delivery models will be needed to attract, better train and effectively deploy health care and community‐based workers to provide dementia care. Average per‐person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2024 for health care, long‐term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $360 billion. The Special Report investigates how caregivers of older adults with cognitive issues interact with the health care system and examines the role non‐physician health care professionals play in facilitating clinical care and access to community‐based services and supports. It includes surveys of caregivers and health care workers, focusing on their experiences, challenges, awareness and perceptions of dementia care navigation.

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The Alter Program

Cited by 10 publications

References 33 publications

Family Caregiving for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses

Family Caregiving for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses

Global rural health disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: State of the science

2024 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

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