Collaborative Study to Explore Benefits of Alzheimer’s Programs

Contact: Chris Hendriks, Vice President, Public & External Affairs, Catholic Health Services

Contact: Elisa Gerber, Public Relations Manager, Catholic Health Services, 516.705.1871

More than 50,000 Long Islanders are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to rise. With the increasing need for services, the Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center is partnering with Catholic Health Services (CHS) on a two-year study of the impact of Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center's programs. This collaboration between Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center and CHS—a major, integrated health care delivery system for the region—is supported by the New York State DSRIP (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment) program.

Kicking off in July, the study will document the benefit of Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center's Social Model Day Program in helping individuals with Alzheimer's to remain in their homes and communities longer and to require less frequent in-hospital stays. The cooperative DSRIP project will support the referral of CHS's Medicaid-eligible Alzheimer's patients to Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center with the goal of reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations among this population.

"We're hoping that by the conclusion of this study," said Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center Executive Director Tori Cohen, LCSW, "the state will see how social day programs can positively impact a person's quality of life after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, including keeping the individual in the community as long as possible."

In addition to programs for early, moderate and late stages of Alzheimer's, Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center offers caregiver support groups and in-home respite among their services. This latest effort represents yet another new chapter in Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center's goal to extend its reach to more individuals in need of its services. A nonprofit, Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center began this quest earlier this year, when the organization moved from its longtime Port Washington location to a new, state-of-the-art center in Westbury.

"Being more centrally located will allow us to serve more families. We're excited that our partnership with CHS will further allow us to reach out to even more individuals by connecting their network of participants to our programs," added Cohen.

Caption: Music is part of Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center's Social Model Day Program. Participants gathered for a performance recently in the cheerful presentation room at Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center's new Westbury center.

For more information about the Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center, please contact Jenna Caroccia, Director of External Affairs at jcaroccia@liaf.org or (516) 767-6856 ext. 28. To schedule an intake, please contact Melissa Katz, Director of Early Stage/In-Home Respite at mkatz@liaf.org or call (516) 767-6856 ext. 14.