PROVIDENCE, RI (17 de marzo de 2021) – In an effort to better address the stress and isolation that can impact those who care for a loved one with dementia, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has launched a new program in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter to provide information, support and resources to members with dementia and their caregivers. The Dementia Care Coordination Program - available to all BCBSRI Medicare Advantage members with a dementia or dementia-related diagnosis – is a referral-based program in which the healthcare provider, the BCBSRI team, and the Alzheimer’s Association partner to support people living with dementia and their family caregivers.

More than 23,000 Rhode Islanders are currently living with a form of dementia and more than 53,000 Rhode Islanders are in turn providing care to a family member or friend with dementia. The Dementia Care Coordination Program – based on a Veterans Administration study that showed interventions like this improved outcomes and decreased healthcare utilization - is designed to assist caregivers in managing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

“We know that caregiver stress is real, and a lot to handle. We also know there aren’t many resources readily available," said Victor Pinkes, M.D., BCBSRI medical director. “There’s a great deal of education that comes with a diagnosis of dementia. The support that this program gives to caregivers - along with a focus on addressing the associated safety issues that accompany dementia – can hopefully intervene early enough to help prevent a health or safety incident, or caregiver burnout."

Dementia Care Coordination Program memory specialists make outreach to family caregivers post-referral to schedule a care consultation. The 6-month program provides the caregiver with personalized strategies and resources – along with a summary of the plan sent to the primary care physician - to increase their chance of success in caring for their loved one. The program is designed to:

• increase home safety.
• decrease caregiver burden.
• assist caregivers in managing behaviors.
• decrease the need for emergency department visits.

“Dementia primarily affects older Rhode Islanders, and one of the main concerns we hear from people is that they want to stay in their home," said Rosaly Cuevas, BCBSRI behavioral health program manager. “How can we help them do that? One of the benefits of this program is that we can work with members to create a plan, provide tips and support to help them safely remain at home and not be separated from a spouse or loved ones."

To learn more about enrolling in this program, BCBSRI Medicare members can talk to their primary care provider, or call the Medicare Concierge team at (401) 277-2958 or 1-800-267-0439 (TTY: 711). For more resources on caring for a loved one with dementia, please visit www.bcbsri.com/medicare/caregiver/dementia