Alzheimer’s Association Direct Connect Referral - #96
Take QuizNavigating the diagnosis and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease or another dementia can be overwhelming to patients and their caregivers.
Navigating the diagnosis and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease or another dementia can be overwhelming to patients and their caregivers. Families and patients expect health care providers to support and assist them when managing this progressive and typically burdensome chronic condition, yet clinicians lack the time and resources to meet this expectation. The Alzheimer’s Association Direct Connect Referral Program can fill this gap by having clinicians initiate a first contact between patients/their caregivers and the Alzheimer’s Association [1].
- Health care clinicians will complete the 1-page, HIPAA compliant Direct Connect Referral Form. This referral form can be used for multiple types of dementia including unspecified dementia, MCI, Alzheimer's disease, other related dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association will contact the referred individual and assist with needs:
- In 2-4 weeks from the time the referral is received.
- Urgent requests are given higher priority with contact being made in 1-5 days from the time the referral is received.
- If more rapid contact is needed, call the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900).
- Care consultations provide individualized support and connection to local resources.
- Caregiver support can include skill building classes, support groups, and safety services.
- All care and support services provided through the Alzheimer’s Association are free of charge.
Health care team members in the outpatient/inpatient setting who provide care to patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
Health care team members when considering discharge plans for patients with dementia retuning to the community with caregivers (e.g., from acute care settings, long term care settings).
Connect patients, their families, and their caregivers to disease education, support services and local community resources provided at no cost by the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Direct Connect form for the state of Wisconsin can be found here
About 11.2 million Americans provide unpaid care for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias [2]. Over half of family caregivers report high or very high emotional stress [2]. This number is only expected to rise as it is estimated that by the year 2050, 152 million people will suffer from dementia worldwide [3].
Science Principles
Support dementia patients and their caregivers by connecting them to the Alzheimer’s Association, who can then connect them to community resources.
Review of Systems (ROS)
Geriatric Topics
ACGME Compentencies
Science Principles
1) FAQs Regarding Alzheimer’s Association Direct Connect Referral Program. Alzheimer’s Association. FAQs-Direct-Connect-Referral-Program_revised_9_24_2019-(1).pdf (alz.org)
2) Alzheimer's Association. 2021 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimers Dement 2021;17(3)
3) Chang CH, Ming Y, Chang TH, Yen YY, Lan SJ. The Needs and Utilization of Long-Term Care Service Resources by Dementia Family Caregivers and the Affecting Factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Aug 18;17(16):6009. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17166009. PMID: 32824871; PMCID: PMC7460079.
4) Thomas P, Lalloué F, Preux PM, Hazif-Thomas C, Pariel S, Inscale R, Belmin J, Clément JP. Dementia patients caregivers quality of life: the PIXEL study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;21(1):50-6. doi: 10.1002/gps.1422. PMID: 16323256.
5) Hodgson NA, Petrovsky DV, Finegan K, Kallmyer BA, Pike J, Fazio S. One call makes a difference: An evaluation of the Alzheimer's Association National Helpline on dementia caregiver outcomes. Patient Educ Couns. 2021 Apr;104(4):896-902. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.09.026. Epub 2020 Sep 23. PMID: 33004235.
6) Crous-Bou M, Minguillón C, Gramunt N, Molinuevo JL. Alzheimer's disease prevention: from risk factors to early intervention. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2017 Sep 12;9(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s13195-017-0297-z. PMID: 28899416; PMCID: PMC5596480.