Deteriorating health and not being able to live at home, these are among older adults greatest age-related fears, according to a recent study of people age 55 and older. Look further and you’ll also find that dementia of any kind makes the list of medical conditions that seniors dread most.

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care (ADC) program – which Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) launched on May 3, 2021 – addresses these concerns and more. The program provides the infrastructure dementia patients and their caregivers need to continue living comfortably in the community.

“The ADC program is step one of a comprehensive Geriatric Services program that Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group is introducing,” says Sam Downing, MD, Medical Director of Palliative and Geriatric Services at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group. “The ADC program is an evidence-based program. That means it has been thoroughly researched and proven successful.”

Customized Care Plans

The ADC program is coordinated by Christina Gettens, DNP, AGNP-C. As an adult gerontology nurse practitioner, Dr. Gettens brings knowledge and experience to the role of the ADC’s dementia care specialist.

“The ADC program focuses on living with dignity,” Dr. Gettens says. “Our goal is to positively impact dementia patients and their caregivers by providing exceptional, comprehensive care.”

Dr. Gettens will collaborate with everyone involved in the dementia patient’s care to meet that goal—the patient’s primary care physician and caregiver as well as professionals from community-based service organizations. Together, this team addresses the medical, behavioral, legal and social challenges that surround Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

A customized care plan will be developed by Dr. Gettens – with input from the patient’s primary care provider – for every ADC patient and caregiver. Dr. Gettens also manages the plan as it’s implemented and updates it as the patient’s needs change. This care plan allows people with dementia to remain in the community with their loved ones for as long as possible.

There’s No Place Like Home

Why is living in the community – at home or in the home of an adult child, for example –better for people with dementia? Nearly 70 percent of the more than 6 million people in the United States with

dementia live at home. Studies show that these dementia patients are healthier, happier and live longer. It’s also a more affordable option for many people.

The ADC model of dementia management also reduces hospitalizations and emergency department visits, which are difficult for dementia patients.

Breaking Down the Customized Care Plan

The ADC program customized care plan features:

• An initial 90-minute, in-person assessment meeting with Dr. Gettens, the patient and the patient’s caregiver. (Our team follows the CDC’s COVID-19 safety recommendations in your home and at our clinic.)
• An ongoing partnership with the dementia patient’s primary care provider to develop, implement and evaluate the customized care plan.
• Information for the caregiver about reputable in-home services—nursing, home-health, meal delivery, cleaning and more.
• Follow-up phone communication or in-person visits to check the status of the care plan and discuss if changes are needed.
• Round-the-clock phone access to the ADC team 365-days a year for assistance and advice.
• An annual or more frequent visit with Dr. Gettens to discuss the dementia patient’s ongoing and emerging needs.

Joining the ADC Program

Participating in the ADC program requires:

• An active diagnosis of dementia – or a related condition – from a primary care physician, neurologist or other healthcare provider.
• That the patient is living at home or in a home-like setting and is not in hospice care or a custodial nursing home.
• A patient-caregiver team—husband and wife or an adult child and parent, for example.

Caring for the Caregiver

The ADC’s focus on caregivers is unique and, according to Dr. Gettens, essential to providing the best care possible for the patient.

“The dementia patient’s caregiver is a member of the ADC team,” explains Dr. Gettens. “Their involvement and observations are critical to the dementia patient’s overall health and well-being. That’s why in addition to caring for the dementia patient, our team also monitors the caregiver.”