Page 55 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map

NEW MEXICO

Supporting Caregivers

Because New Mexico has a shortage of nurses and The health department chose to co-market the
long-term care facilities (especially in rural areas), 58 programs because older adults living with dementia
state health officials realize the importance of helping are more likely than their peers to have multiple
people living with dementia stay in their homes as long chronic conditions, including hypertension, heart
as possible—a situation that is typically preferred but disease, or diabetes. Also, older caregivers for a
depends upon the availability of in-home caregivers. spouse with dementia are twice as likely to have had
To improve support for caregivers of people living a stroke and 50% more likely to have cardiovascular
with dementia, the New Mexico Department of Health disease than married non-caregivers of the same
partnered with the state’s Aging and Long-Term age. 59 As an additional way to support people affected
Services Department to encourage caregivers to by dementia, the health department posted information
participate in two important courses. on cognitive decline and dementia on the New Mexico
Department of Health website. Over an 18-month
Savvy Caregiver is a free, 14-hour educational period, the website had 1,384 page views or an
program for caregivers of people with memory average of about 75 per month. •
loss or dementia. Graduates learn how to handle
the challenges of caring for a family member with
Alzheimer’s and other dementias and care for
themselves.

Another set of courses for chronic disease self-
management is an evidence-based intervention
developed by Stanford University to help educate
persons with chronic conditions and their caregivers.
Topics include managing common chronic disease
issues, participating in treatment decisions, problem-
solving and adhering to treatment plans, making
advance directives, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Case Studies

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