Project ECHO-D Newsletter
News - Events - Opportunities
May 2020
Thank you for being a part of the program “Enhancing the Care and Health of Older Adults Living with Dementia and their Care Partners” (ECHO-D). Here are some upcoming learning opportunities and resources that you may find helpful.
ECHO-D SESSIONS
Project ECHO-D Session # 8
Thursday, May 28th, 2020 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)
Didactic Presentation : Ellen Flaherty (NH) and Renee Pepin (NH): “End of Life Care & Dementia”'

Community Case Presentation : Maine Highlands Senior Center: Lesley Fernow (ME) and Tara Smith (ME)
Upcoming Events
The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. On June 20 , thousands of participants from across the world come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer's through an activity of their choice. Together, they use their creativity and passion to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

For more information, click here.
COVID-19 Resources
Introducing Qualidigm's COVID-19 Resource Page
At Qualidigm, we are concerned about COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, and how it will impact our communities, partners, clients, and the patients they care for. Since there are many unknowns and the information is constantly changing, we have developed this webpage, which is a collection of credible and useful resources from local and national agencies, to keep you informed. We will continue to update this page as more information is made available. To view these resources, click here.
Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging Information and Resources to keep our older adults healthy in New England
As we are all dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic together, Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging is devoted to sharing the latest information and resources available to ensure the health and safety of older adults throughout Northern New England. We continue to compile information, best practices, resources, and tools available to share with older adults, aging service providers, emergency medical services, municipalities, aging in place communities, and other networks serving older adults across the region. Please check back regularly as we will be updating as new information becomes available. To view these resources, click here.
Alzheimer's Association's COVID-19 Tips for Caregivers of People with Dementia
New information from the Alzheimer’s Association sheds light on how COVID-19 might impact people with dementia and caregivers. While dementia is not believed to increase the risk of COVID-19, other factors such as dementia-related behaviors (e.g. difficulty following CDC protocols for handwashing), age, and common health conditions may affect the risk. The Alzheimer’s Association compiled a list of best practices for caregivers of people with dementia living at home and in assisted living. Tips include placing signs in bathrooms to remind people with dementia to wash their hands for 20 seconds, demonstrating thorough hand-washing and using hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol when the person cannot get to a sink or wash his/her hands easily. For these and additional tips, please click here.
Northern New England State Resources for COVID-19

Maine
The southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) provides general resource information for older adults and adults with disabilities on topics such as housing, Medicare, transportation, as well as other topics. To access these Maine resources, please click here .

New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services provides a general resource page for older adults, as well as, other groups in New Hampshire. To access these New Hampshire resources, please click here .

Vermont
The Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living website in Vermont provides a resource page for this special population and those who care for them. To access these Vermont resources, please click here.
Alzheimer's Disease International releases a position paper on COVID-19 and dementia

Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) shares some guidance on the difficult decisions people with dementia, their families and carers are having to make about hospital admission and triage during COVID-19. To read this article, click here .
New Data from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Examines Impact of Coronavirus Crisis

Results of a survey released by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s provides insights into how the coronavirus crisis is affecting people living with dementia and their caregivers. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of caregivers surveyed indicated that are unsure what would happen to their loved one if the caregiver contracted coronavirus. In addition, 33 percent of caregivers surveyed said they were unsure what to do if their loved one with Alzheimer’s becomes sick with COVID-19. To view this data source, click here.

To help support caregivers during this crisis, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s also released a blog post with advice from caregivers on managing during this crisis. To view this resource, click here.
Other Resources

Alzheimer's Association Virtual Person-Centered Dementia Care

The curriculum is a train-the-trainer model created to prepare attendees already familiar with Alzheimer's and dementia care, to train direct care staff in a wide range of residential and community based settings. The 7-hour virtual training teaches attendees how to deliver the 13-hour curriculum based on the person-centered model of Habilitation Therapy. There are scholarships available that are grant supported by AgingME GWEP. We would like to make these available to as many of our long term care and assisted living communities as possible. Click here for more information & to register.
New England Virtual Programs & Support Groups

We know that during this unprecedented time, no one should face Alzheimer’s or other dementia alone. That’s why we have developed additional resources* to help support you! These support groups are presented by Alzheimer’s Association volunteers and staff in MA, NH, CT, VT, ME, and RI.

Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. They also educate and inform participants about dementia and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems.

Click here for a complete list of New England Virtual Programs & Support Groups. To learn more and to register for any of these groups, call our 24/7 Helpline at ( 800)272-3900 .
Alzheimer's Impact Movement
New Federal priority:
Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act 
Click here for more information on Ac t S.3703/H.R. 6813.

For more information about all of the Alzheimer's Association's Federal priorities, and other Bills we support, please click here.
Health Directive for those with Dementia
As a follow up to our March and April session, Jennifer Fitzgerald provided a dementia directive example. To view this form, click here.
RESOURCES