Alzheimers Community Care

The Message is Hope Mary M. Barnes FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO My message in this letter is about "hope", and the only way hope exists is because of the hard work that we have done as an organization over the years: • Alzheimer's Medicaid Waiver Program • Florida Silver Alert Program • Specialized Alzheimer's Day Care Act We cannot expect the medical community, health care systems and providers to embrace the needs of our families unless there are services and resources available that have the capacity and capability to benefit them. Alzheimer's Community Care's model of care has been investigated by the Joint Commission and was subsequently awarded the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval. The foundation for our accreditation is the organization's proven care plans and how they're administered as specialists in behavioral health. As I anticipated many years ago, there are going to be many of those who want to "talk the talk" on how knowledgeable they are about what you need as a family caregiver. However, we believe that you deserve documented outcomes and substantiated results that have been tested over time, such as: • Understanding and possessing well planned financial and legal resources which could diminish the need for long- term placement and is available 24/7. • Assisting with cost containment measures and practices whenever possible so as to eliminate surprises. Less surprises means less havoc with your precious financial resources. • Increases the longevity of time and stamina for enabling families to keep their loved ones in the home throughout the duration of the disease process. • Maintaining the balance within families so they are connected with the needs of each other and are in harmony when end of life care decisions are required. Alzheimer's Community Care's Family Nurse Consultants (FNCs) services are free of charge. All of our Family Nurse Consultants are registered nurses (RNs). RNs have the knowledgeable clinical and medical base for administering comfort for caregivers and patients as this insidious disease affects the human condition. Our FNCs manage all of the organization's support groups, and their critical hands-on knowledge may provide the direction and resources when those hard decisions become necessary. We believe "that no one should cope with issues in isolation and loneliness when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder". I end my letter by extending an invitation to you to visit our SociAlz sources, our mobile website, or our desktop version of the website (alzcare.org) to learn of our life impacting and life saving support services and resources. We are only a phone call or click away. That is our promise to you. I remain, Mary M. Barnes President and CEO ALZHEIMER'S COMMUNITY CARE / SPRING 2014 3

• Cover