BOLD: NYSDOH Coalition Addressing Risk Reduction, Early Detection and ADRD Diagnosis - The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), through its Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI), currently funds a comprehensive network of programs and services that support caregivers and those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia (ADRD) in their communities. The ADCSI, established in 2015, is based upon research demonstrating that access to appropriate support services will lead to improved caregiver outcomes, reduced caregiver burden and a delay in institutionalization. Overseen by the NYSDOH Alzheimer’s Disease Program staff, the ADCSI has historically taken a two-pronged systems approach, focusing on service delivery to caregivers and persons with dementia, while also enhancing the health care workforce capacity to provide an early diagnosis and linkages to appropriate community-based services. The ADCSI includes a coalition of ten Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease (CEAD) and an array of direct care service providers, including all seven NYS Chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association. This provider coalition serves eight regions within NYS and reaches caregivers in all 62 counties statewide. Support for this network of providers and New York’s emphasis on supporting caregivers has been directed by a NYS ADRD Strategic Plan. The State Plan is guided by an Alzheimer’s Disease Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias (Coordinating Council). It is our intent under this BOLD project proposal to build upon the existing ADCSI infrastructure and to increase the reach, breadth, and sustainability y of NYS’s ADRD programs. Project activities will expand awareness about brain health, risk reduction strategies, and the management of chronic disease comorbidities, as well as increase clinical-community linkages. The project will rely upon and establish new partnerships with those reaching populations across the age spectrum, with a particular focus on high-risk African American and Hispanic residents and rural and underserved communities. Project activities under this BOLD proposal will include: 1) Expanding the ADRD Coalition to include representation by the NYS Chronic Disease Program on the NYS Coordinating Council and expanding collaborations with several CDC-funded chronic disease public awareness initiatives around the importance of maintaining brain health; 2) Promoting brain health and risk reduction strategies and enhancing the public health approach to ADRD across NYS. This effort will educate Office of Aging and county public health department staff, thus expanding ADRD presence and resources at a local level; and 3) Increasing access to early detection and diagnostic services for those individuals suspected of having ADRD. Through specialized training of medical providers affiliated with federally qualified health centers and/or primary care provider systems, and access to the clinical expertise of 10 NYS CEADs, the ADP will build health provider capacity and capability to manage ADRD in underserved regions of NYS. The overarching goal of the project is to improve the long-term health and related outcomes for persons with ADRD and their caregivers, including increased awareness and knowledge about early detection and prevention, and enhanced access to diagnostic services and ADRD treatment by a competent and capable medical and health care workforce.
