LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bluegrass Care Navigators has received a $1 million grant to support Kentuckians who have Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
The award comes from the federal Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bluegrass Care Navigators is one of 13 organizations in the nation awarded the grant and the only one in Kentucky.
The grant is intended to address gaps in services for Kentuckians with Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia, as well caregivers of those with the disease. With the funding, Bluegrass Care Navigators will develop programs to support people will Alzheimer’s who live alone, and those who have intellectual or developmental disabilities with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the organization will provide training to help caregivers cope with the stress of caregiving responsibilities.
“Our major goal is to support caregivers, and help families avoid institutionalization of loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or dementia,” said Susan Swinford, Bluegrass Care Navigators vice president of administration. “With our team of physicians, nursing professionals, social workers and chaplains, and with our strong healthcare partners across the state, Bluegrass Care Navigators is uniquely positioned to address these special needs.”
Bluegrass Care Navigators plans to enroll at least 190 patients and caregivers in the program in the first year and serve an additional 370 patients and caregivers in each of the next two years. The program will serve 930 Kentuckians in 32 counties across Northern, Central and Eastern Kentucky.
Enrollees should experience fewer hospitalizations, emergency department visits and institutionalizations, and caregivers should experience reduced feelings of burden and depression.
To achieve these goals and outcomes, Bluegrass Care Navigators has partnered with a coalition of health providers across the state, including: UK HealthCare; University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging; Bluegrass Area Development District Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living; Easterseals Cardinal Hill; Baptist Health Group Memory Care Clinic; Baptist Health Lexington; Baptist Health Corbin; CHI Health and Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
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