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Raising Awareness
June 22, 2010 - 12:01pm
Developing the message
Hello to the NHMA Alzheimer's Task Force. By now all of you should have received the Forum introduction submitted by Dr. Rios. If we could begin the discussion by each of you identifying in your opinion and based on your expertise the top three priorities or things we should consider in developing the message to help raise awareness about Alzheimer's Disease. Please keep in mind that this is the message being developed for Physicians. I will be collecting your input and will be posting additional forum topics in response to your replies. Thank you and look forward to receiving your information.
Liz Chavez
NHMA Consultant
July 20, 2010 - 6:50pm
Top Three Priorities
Top Three Priorities in Developing the Message to Help Raise Awareness about Alzheimer's Disease: 1. Stress the importance and the value of "early detection". Please help patients and their caregivers understand the value of early detection. Things to consider are: the comfort of knowing what the symptoms are and understanding how they affect the person with the disease and their loved ones, getting prescribed medications that can help with a person's activities of daily living, getting connected to the resources of the Alzheimer's Association, getting connected to clinical studies.2. Help patients and caregivers understand the value of Clinical Studies.3. Help patients and caregivers get connected to valuable resources such as support of the Alzheimer's Association. Help them understand that they do not have to endure the challenges alone.
June 23, 2010 - 9:36am
memory loss is not part of normal aging
Good morning group,
We have to be careful in how we share our message because of the many variables involved in cognitive decline (co-morbid medical conditions and mental health). Hispanics are also likely to dismiss symptoms of depression, which in most cases are manifested through physical symptoms. One of the main points should be that short-term memory loss is NOT part of normal aging. We then can discuss the factors that impact declines in cognition such as mood and co-morbid medical conditions. We should also remember to mention that some cognitive declines can be reversed (vitamin deficiency). I mentioned some figures/stats regarding cognitive decline and the Hispanic community...I will post those shortly.
Thanks,
Adriana
July 20, 2010 - 6:54pm
NHMA is to be applauded
On behalf of the Alzheimer's Association, I want to applaud Dr. Elena Rios and Liz Chavez for their leadership in developing the health portals they have developed. Their efforts to educate the physician community about the resources of organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association is phenomenal. As they have clearly determined, we are all strengthened by working together to educate our communities about these health concerns and the resources available to our many constituents.I sincerely hope this portal will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Welcome to the National Hispanic Medical Association Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force Forum Discussion which will occur over the next few weeks. The purpose of this Forum Discussion is to develop a powerful message about the importance of raising awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease to primary care physicians in the NHMA network, including the presidents of the NHMA Council of Medical Societies to share with their members as well as the NHMA members. We all recognize that part of this message will be to refer the Hispanic physician to utilize the campaign of the Alzheimer’s Association Early Detection Alliance, “Knowing the Ten Signs”.
As per our conference call this week, we have identified some initial priority areas to start developing this message:
Many Hispanic families may bring a patient to see a doctor for evaluation of what they think is old age or depression and not know about Alzheimer’s Disease.
Primary Care Physicians need to refer patients with Alzheimer’s Disease to specialists for a better understanding of the disease progression and for care of co-morbid diseases that often occur, most often, hypertension and vascular disease.
Physicians need to discuss the need for long term care options and decisions with the family and caregiver of the patient who has Alzheimer’s disease and the referral to the Alzheimer’s Association, for example. These options include caregiving and associated stress, home health care, community resources or institutional care and resources needed.
Please comment on these statements. Please add more priority comments to be included in the MESSAGE From the NHMA to its Networks this summer. Liz Chavez, consultant will be helping us craft the message with your expert input. We will acknowledge your participation on the NHMA Portal and in the Newsletter as well in the Letter we send this summer to the NHMA and Medical Societies. Thank you for your time.