Alzheimer Family Program
The Alzheimer Family Program (AFP) was established in 1980, under
the name "The Alzheimer Society", to provide caregiver education, telephone support,
support groups, and community outreach related to Alzheimer's disease.
Sponsors: The Center for Aging is the primary funding source for
the program, and a contract from the Office of Senior Citizens Services (OSCS) supports
specific caregiver education and support activities. Additional revenue for the
program comes from contributions and memorial gifts. Virginia Wadley, Ph.D., Director
of the UAB Center for Aging Dementia Care Research Program, provides leadership
to the AFP and Elizabeth (Betty) Roberts serves as the AFP Coordinator. Currently,
five areas of special emphasis define the goals of the AFP.
Lifeline phone consultation services: Staff members of the AFP
provide telephone consultation to caregivers in response to their specific needs.
Staff members are trained to respond with empathic and active listening techniques.
Telephone consultation also leads to the dissemination of educational materials
and resources to address specific caregiver needs. Approximately 50 information
packets are distributed each month.
Resource directory of dementia-related services and facilities:
The AFP has compiled and currently maintains a comprehensive listing of resources
available to caregivers. The directory includes services specific to caregiving
needs, such as financial and legal issues, transportation, respite care, and long-term
care.
Caregiver support groups: The AFP maintains a complete list of
all caregiver support groups in Jefferson and surrounding counties and conducts
several of the groups. Group meetings provide caregivers time to interact, share
stories and advise each other. Caregivers learn from each other, and several groups
also provide an instructive component to teach caregivers about Alzheimer's Disease
and other forms of dementia and about skills that can help them in their caregiving
role.
Access to the latest research studies, tests and findings: The
AFP provides caregivers with information about all dementia-related research conducted
at UAB. AFP staff members are trained to give caregivers information about the projects,
inform them about the benefits of participating in research, and even screen potential
participants for some projects. The Program also distributes a quarterly newsletter,
which outlines current nationwide research studies and outcomes.
Community Outreach: Sharing information and knowledge about AD
and caregiving with the community is a central goal of the AFP. The AFP conducts
public education to promote awareness of Alzheimer's disease and to enhance caregivers'
knowledge and expertise in caring for their loved one. Dr. Wadley and staff members
of the AFP conduct workshops, in-service training, public talks and seminars. These
reach a large number of both professional and family caregivers who otherwise might
have limited access to patient care information.
Primary Contact Person:
Elizabeth (Betty) Roberts, M.Ed
UAB Center for Aging Alzheimer Family Program
CH19 219V
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-2041
(tel) (205) 934-2178
afp@aging.uab.edu
Leaders and Key Staff:
- Virginia Wadley, PhD
Director of the UAB Center for Aging Dementia Care Research Program
- Elizabeth (Betty) Roberts, M.Ed
AFP Coordinator
- Elizabeth Hope, MSW