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 funds the program. 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.
Information on dementia-related services and facilities: The AFP
offers information on resources available to caregivers, including 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 counti es 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. For a current listing, contact Betty Roberts as listed below.
Access to the latest research studies, tests and findings: The
AFP provides caregivers with information about dementia-related research conducted
at UAB. AFP staff members are trained to give caregivers information about the projects
and inform them about the benefits of participating in research.
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.
Additional Information:
Primary Contact Person:
M.Ed
UAB Center for Aging Alzheimer Family Program
CH19 219V
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-2041
(tel) (205) 934-2178
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