Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Reduction
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, adopting healthy habits may help lower your risk. Regular physical activity, managing high blood pressure, and quitting smoking are all linked to better brain health. A healthy diet and regular check-ups for heart health are also important, as what’s good for the heart is good for the brain. For more information on reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s, visit www.cdc.gov/alzheimers-dementia/prevention
Awareness – Advocacy – Education – Support
AASCW offers outreach services in Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The unique geographic area of the Olympic Peninsula can be challenging when a family is living in a rural setting and needs access to resources related to dementia.
There are over 80,000 people age 60 and over in our service region, and one in 10 people age 65 and older are likely to have Alzheimer’s. We believe in community-based services like public education and awareness, early diagnosis care plan support, behavior management education, and caregiver support.
We have partnered with the University of Washington’s Memory and Brain Wellness Center to promote Dementia Friends USA as well as Project ECHO to support education and improve our local health care delivery systems.
MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER: We are working to help implement the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias by raising public awareness, fostering dementia-friendly communities, promoting early legal and advanced care planning, and improving primary care. Read more about this plan at Dementia Action Collaborative | DSHS (wa.gov)
COMMUNITY EDUCATION:
- Dealing with Dementia Workshops: FREE small group family caregiver trainings
- Dementia Friends: FREE 1-hour informational session on becoming more aware, empathetic, and helpful to those living with dementia in your local community. Can be offered to businesses, small groups, families, schools, and more.
- Presentations on the importance of early legal planning, advanced health care directives and durable power of attorney for those living with dementia.
SHARE for Dementia:
- Evidenced-based early diagnosis program developed by the Benjamin Rose Institute. SHARE fills an important gap in dementia care by engaging the person with early-stage dementia and their care partner in planning for the future through discussions about symptoms, care values and preferences, and healthy activities.
STAR-C:
- The STAR-C program was designed by the University of Washington to help family caregivers who are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Several weekly individual sessions with a coach help the caregiver to decrease problem behaviors in the person with dementia and to address their own responses.
CAREGIVER RESOURCES:
- Project Lifesaver-Sheriff’s Office (Clallam and Jefferson Counties)
- Personalized dignity cards for caregivers
OPTIONS COUNSELING:
- FREE consultation regarding local options and resources for family caregiver and people living with dementia
For information on support groups, memory cafés, adult day centers, or respite options call 360-209-8338
To contact our Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator, fill out a Dementia Outreach Referral Form or call: 360-209-8338