TCADRD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, Texas (February 13, 2017). The Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (Council) is pleased to announce a new program, “Texas Cares,” a model for memory capable communities and support for family caregivers, developed and administered through Baylor Scott and White Health and Texas A&M School of Public Health. The program is set to launch in April 2017 to the employees of universities participating in the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium with hopes of expanding the program to all Texans in the coming years.
Texas Cares will establish the minimum level of memory support and caregiving services that each Texan should expect to be available at the state level and in their local community. Additionally, Texas Cares will leverage technology to develop systems to address caregiver health literacy and deliver evidence-based education and skills more widely to caregivers across the State. Pilot testing will initially be targeted at working caregivers for whom traditional sources of information and support are significantly less accessible. Texas Cares will complement the research work at the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium, a collaborative Alzheimer’s disease research effort, directed and funded by the Council as part of the state-funded Darrell K Royal Texas Alzheimer’s Initiative.
“All Texans should have access to educational information on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, including specific information on how to locate local services and supports. While printed literature is widely available, new efforts are needed to provide online information and access to individualized support due to the growing demographic of internet‐literate family caregivers”, said Dr. Alan Stevens, Director of the Center for Applied Health Research and holder of the Vernon D. Holleman-Lewis M. Rampy Centennial Chair in Gerontology at Baylor Scott & White Health.
“This is indeed a unique partnership involving Texas A&M, Baylor Scott and White Health and the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, all working together to make a difference in Alzheimer’s care. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the burdens of care which are only anticipated to increase with the rapid aging of the Texas population. But the impact of this effort can be much larger with Texas Cares serving as a model for the Nation” said Regents and Distinguished Professor Marcia Ory, PhD of the Texas A&M School of Public Health, Director of the Texas A&M Program on Healthy Aging and one of the study co-principal investigators.
“The efforts of our Council over the past twelve years have focused on bringing Alzheimer’s disease research and care to the forefront in Texas by directing over $36,000,000 in funding to major medical schools and universities in Texas,” said Council Chair Debbie Hanna. “We are delighted to have the expertise and guidance of Dr. Alan Stevens and the partnership of Texas A&M University and Baylor Scott and White Health in our efforts to implement Texas Cares for the citizens of Texas. We know Coach Royal would be very proud of this initiative to support and inform all affected by this disease.”
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About the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
Established in 1987, the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders was created by the Texas Legislature to serve as the state’s advocate for persons with AD, their caregivers, and related professionals. The Council is charged with providing vision and leadership to Texas by encouraging statewide coordinated Alzheimer’s disease research, statewide strategic planning, and recommending needed action for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.
For further information, contact:
Debbie Hanna, Chair
Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
[email protected]; 512-461-8185
Alan Stevens, Ph.D.
Texas Cares PI
Marcia Ori, Ph.D., MPH
Texas Cares Co-PI