New campaign underway to highlight support, services available to First State caregivers

NEW CASTLE, Del. (Jan. 30, 2023) — The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has launched a new campaign designed to raise awareness around the many resources available to those who care for and support an older adult or someone living with a disability. The campaign highlights DHSS’ Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD), which offers caregivers valuable services, information and support.

“Many who live in or come to Delaware to take care of and support another individual do not consider themselves a caregiver, let alone know about all the resources and services available to them,” said Melissa Smith, director of DSAAPD. “Do you provide rides to doctor appointments? Pick up prescriptions? Do you help a relative with their financials? Do you spend time with a homebound senior? These are all caregiver roles that deserve to be acknowledged and supported.”

The campaign is designed to help individuals recognize their role as a caregiver and then guide them to the myriad networks of support available within the state.

Services include support groups, home care, transportation, food programs, financial assistance, along with the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) website, which connects Delawareans to all aging and disability resources and services throughout the First State.

“The Delaware ADRC can connect caregivers with the support they need — or maybe didn’t even know they were looking for — so they can effectively take care of their loved ones and, at the same time, take care of themselves,” Smith said.

The campaign started in mid-January and includes radio, social media, and print and digital advertising.

Caregivers are encouraged to visit DelawareADRC.com to access services and support.

NEWARK (Nov. 14, 2022) – The Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) is using the findings from a report based on caregiver focus groups held late last year across the state to enhance its current supports and develop a new approach to caregiver services. This includes the formation of the Delaware Action Network for Caregivers, a forum where caregivers can learn and collaborate with agencies supporting caregivers. Its inaugural meeting will be held Nov. 29, 2022, during National Family Caregivers Month.

DSAAPD released the report today, compiled by Wilder Research, which builds on the Division’s efforts to better support unpaid family caregivers throughout the lifespan.

“Family caregivers play a significant role in supporting parents, children, siblings, and other loved ones who need care for a variety of reasons,” said DSAAPD Director Melissa Smith. “Many older adults prefer to remain in their homes for as long as possible, and families often prefer to care for their children and other family members at home. However, caregiving can have major impacts on caregivers’ health and well-being. Providing supports to these individuals and helping them access the resources they need is critically important.”

Four main themes emerged from eight focus group sessions that included 38 participants:

Family caregiver characteristics and experiences
According to the AARP report, Caregiving in the United States 2020, caregiving cuts across generations, race and ethnicity, income and family composition, among other identifiers. The characteristics of the caregivers who participated in the local focus groups affirms this observation. However, the information shared by the caregivers during the focus groups showed that there is no one “typical” caregiver and no one “typical” caregiver experience. Needs and expectations vary and can be constantly in flux.

Lack of awareness of services and difficulty locating useful information
Focus group participants expressed a lack of full information about what services might be available to them as one of the most common barriers to accessing supports.

In addition, focus group participants expressed frustration with the amount of time and effort required to navigate systems and find supports.

Concerns about the reliability and quality of services
Focus group participants discussed difficulties in arranging for services. Many factors contribute to this, including the limited availability of paid staff, cost of care, uncertainties about whether caregivers can trust the information or abilities of paid staff, and care recipients’ reluctance to have unfamiliar people care for them.

Financial impact of caregiving
Families are asked to make difficult choices about finances and managing necessary care. Participants discussed the high cost of medical care and the challenges of navigating insurance coverage. In addition, paid employment can be difficult to manage in the face of caregiving responsibilities.

This project was funded through grant support from the National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP) and the John Hartford Foundation. Read the full report on the DSAAPD website. For more information about the Delaware Action Network for Caregivers, call the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-223-9074.

DOVER – An estimated 17,000 Delawareans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is only expected to increase over the next several years. This represents 11% of the state’s senior population. Though research is still evolving, growing evidence shows that people can reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s by making key lifestyle changes, including participating in regular physical and mental activity and maintaining good heart health.

As part of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) urges Delawareans to make lifestyle adjustments to help reduce their risk factors for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that has robbed too many Delawareans of their loved ones,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Between 2015 and 2025, the number of persons age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease in Delaware is expected to increase by over 35 percent to 23,000 people. As our senior population in Delaware continues to grow, it is imperative that we address this illness. We are collaboratively working with our sister agency, the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities to further educate, train and provide supports for those living with Alzheimer’s or other age-related dementias.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease involving parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. It often begins with mild memory loss possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment, and can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease. It is the fifth-leading cause of death for adults age 65 years and older, and the sixth-leading cause of death for all adults. Risk factors include aging, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking cigarettes and a family history of dementia.

Most people live an average of eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related dementias. However, some individuals can live with a form of dementia for as many as 20 years, placing increasingly intensive demands on, and negatively affecting the health of, caregivers, which can negatively impact their income and financial security.

“We are at a very crucial time for our aging population, and as the number continues to rise, our aging population will soon outnumber all other age brackets. Our division is continuing to research best practices to learn how we can continue to evolve the way we provide optimum care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related dementias,” said Dava Newnam, director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD).

Two recent studies published earlier this year showed that actionable lifestyle changes could potentially counteract elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers showed that participants with high genetic risk and poor health habits were about three times more likely to develop dementia versus those with low genetic risk and favorable health habits. Favorable health habits, according to the study, included healthy diet, adequate exercise, limiting alcohol and not smoking.

While there is no known cure to Alzheimer’s or other age-related dementias, there are steps individuals can take to promote healthy aging and brain health:

• Get active and stay active. Becoming more physically active also reduces the chance of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Heart-healthy eating includes limiting the intake of sugar and saturated fats and making sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

• Manage cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. If you need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, call the Delaware Quitline at 1-866-409-1858.

• Learn new things and challenge yourself mentally with puzzles and games.

• Connect with family, friends and communities.

• Protect your head: “Fall-proof” your home, use a helmet when participating in sports, and wear a seat belt to protect your head in the event of a car crash.

In addition, DPH recommends all Delawareans follow the 5-2-1 Almost None concept: eating at least five servings of fruit or vegetables a day, watching no more than two hours of recreational screen time daily, getting one or more hours of physical activity each day, and drinking almost no sugar-sweetened drinks. For additional resources and tips to achieve a healthier, balanced life, visit https://www.healthydelaware.org.

DSAPPD looks at ways it can approach care holistically in addition to medicinal therapies. Earlier this year, the division, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of Delaware Valley, the University of Delaware and Delaware State University, launched the Delaware Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (DECARD), www.decard.org. This website is a virtual hub of information to provide additional supports for individuals who are recently diagnosed, caregivers, or medical professionals. The site is expected to evolve as more is learned about Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias.

“The wellness of the caregiver or caregivers is just as important as the person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other age-related dementias,” said Newnam. “A Stanford University study found that 40% of caregivers who care for a person with Alzheimer’s or other age-related dementias will pass away before the person diagnosed. In Delaware, we have Caregiver Resource Centers located all throughout the state. These sites can provide additional resources and supports, such as the Savvy Caregiver Program for the caregiver and the family unit. The work we do is not just for the person diagnosed, but also for the caregiver.”

To find aging and disability services in Delaware, contact the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-223-9074 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit http://delawareadrc.com/. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and services in Delaware, visit https://alz.org/delval, https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsaapd/alzheimers_toolkit.html, or www.decard.org.

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A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) are hosting an event on Tuesday, April 30, in Dover to show what Dementia Friendly Delaware can offer for Delawareans living with dementia and their families.

Dementia Friendly Delaware (DFD) is a network of communities, organizations and individuals seeking to ensure that communities across Delaware are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. Dementia-friendly communities foster the ability of people living with dementia to remain in the community and engage and thrive in day-to-day living.

“As Delaware’s Lieutenant Governor, I am working with partners from around the state to take on our most pressing health care challenges, including behavioral health, in order to make Delaware a stronger and healthier place,” Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long said. “We all can join together to address these challenges. As awareness of dementia grows, we can take action to create dementia-friendly communities. Every part of the community, including your organization, has a unique role in supporting people with dementia and their family and friends.”

Delaware will offer a preview of the new Delaware Center for Alzheimer’s disease and Related Dementia (DECARD), a virtual hub for resources and information on dementia, at the April 30 event at the Blue Hen Corporate Center at 655 Bay Road, Dover. Delaware is looking for municipalities, corporations and organizations to take the lead and become dementia friendly. If you or your agency are interested, please attend this event to learn more. It starts at 1:30 p.m.

The DECARD site will host tools that organizations can use to support staff who are caring for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia or who have been diagnosed themselves. Trainings, videos and guides for different community sectors will also be available on the site, which will be the virtual home to Dementia Friendly Delaware. This is part of a larger initiative, Dementia Friendly America (DFA). Visit www.dfamerica.org to learn more about DFA.

DSAAPD, one of DHSS’ 11 divisions, advocates for, provides access to, and coordinates long-term services and supports in the most appropriate setting. For more information about DSAAPD, call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-223-9074.

If you cannot attend the event but would still like more information, please contact Julie.Devlin@delaware.gov.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.