Fair Health launches resources to support Alzheimer's care planning and costs

Fair Health launches resources to support Alzheimer's care planning and costs

As part of a national initiative funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF), national, independent nonprofit Fair Health has launched a new shared decision-making tool for Alzheimer's disease that includes clinical information for self-care and drug therapy options, as well as related cost information. The new tool is accompanied by an educational healthcare cost tool and resources, such as: B. printable checklists and links to websites and organizations that offer additional information and resources. These offerings are available for older adults (fairHealtholderaduls.org) in a newly created Alzheimer's section at no cost to users. Fair Health for Older Adults is an online resource in English and Spanish for older adults and family caregivers.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and is the most common form of dementia. The growing financial burden of Alzheimer's disease on older patients and their families has made it increasingly important for them to access objective information to guide their care planning. Tools that facilitate shared decision making - the discussion between patients, caregivers, and providers to choose care that balances clinical evidence with patient preferences and value propositions for improving patient and caregiver engagement in health care decision making and reducing health care costs. The New Alzheimer's Disease Providing Common Decision-Making Tool for Self-Care and Drug Therapy Options and Associated Costs. Some self-care options listed include maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, brain exercises, reviewing medications with healthcare providers, and treating other conditions that affect memory and thinking. The tool also provides information on three types of drug therapies: cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine and monoclonal antibodies.

The new Alzheimer's disease program, established with previous grant funding, expands Fair Health's suite of shared decision-making tools (combining clinical and cost information) and marks a significant step toward offering educational information. By focusing on the most important options for patients and their families, as well as clinical care options that relate to cognition (mind), the new shared decision-making tool with complementary resources can inform discussions and facilitate decisions related to age-friendly Alzheimer's disease care with healthcare providers.

The tool can be used with the complementary offerings for the Alzheimer's Disease for Older Adults section: a FH® Total Care Cost tool that shows the annual cost of Alzheimer's disease care and services. printable checklists with helpful tips and questions for providers; Links to relevant FH® insurance basis articles; Links to organizations and programs that provide support for caregivers; and online tools to help families find services in their areas. With the new tools and resources, families can learn more about different care options and associated costs to plan for them and explore financial resources and support if needed.

As part of the JAHF-funded initiative, Fair Health is disseminating the new, free Alzheimer's disease tools and resources through statewide and current collaborations with four clinical institutions that have achieved age-friendly health system recognition: the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Rochester, and the University of Emory and Emory. Clinicians at Age-Friendly Health System Sites use Fair Health's suite of shared decision-making and FH total care costs with older patients and their caregivers in clinical settings and distribute patient toolkits with actionable checklists, educational content, and links to relevant resources.

Older adults living with Alzheimer's disease have diverse needs and require comprehensive, age-friendly care and services. Fair Health's new shared decision-making tool and associated resources will help older patients and their family caregivers learn more about their care options and plan and manage costs. “

Rani E. Snyder, Vice President, Programs at the John A. Hartford Foundation

To access free Alzheimer's disease care tools, educational content and resources, visit the Alzheimer's Disease Fair Health for Older Adults section.

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