#United States #New York #Alzheimer's Disease #FAIR Health #Caregiving Resources

FAIR Health Unveils New Alzheimer's Disease Shared Decision-Making Tool

In an innovative response to the growing challenges surrounding Alzheimer's disease care, FAIR Health, a national independent nonprofit organization, has launched a comprehensive shared decision-making tool designed to support older adults and their family caregivers. This initiative, funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, aims to empower families by providing objective information to aid in their care planning for Alzheimer's disease.

Supporting Families in Care Decisions

Alzheimer's disease, being the most prevalent form of dementia, presents numerous difficulties for both patients and their families. The financial burden associated with Alzheimer’s care can be overwhelming, which makes accessing reliable information critical for informed decision-making. FAIR Health's new tool is crafted to facilitate a structured discussion between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, merging clinical evidence with personal preferences and values to promote engagement in the decision-making process.

Key Features of the Tool

The Alzheimer’s shared decision-making tool provides an extensive overview of both self-care strategies and drug therapy options. Among the highlighted self-care practices are crucial elements like maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in physical exercise, practicing cognitive skills through brain exercises, carefully reviewing medications with healthcare professionals, and managing other health conditions that may impair memory or cognition. Additionally, the tool clarifies three types of drug therapies currently available: cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and monoclonal antibodies.

Notably, this tool is accompanied by various supplementary resources, all available at no cost through the FAIR Health for Older Adults section. These include:

• - Educational Healthcare Cost Tool: A comprehensive overview of the financial implications of Alzheimer’s care.
• - Printable Checklists: Resources offering practical tips and questions caregivers can use when communicating with providers.
• - Resource Links: Access to organizations and programs dedicated to caregiver support and additional information on managing Alzheimer's disease.

Enhancing Age-Friendly Care

FAIR Health's decision-making tool aligns with the 4Ms framework integral to quality, age-friendly healthcare: what matters, medication, mind, and mobility. By emphasizing patient-centric care and delivering clinical options pertinent to cognitive health, the tool and its accompanying resources help inform critical conversations with healthcare providers, ensuring that care revolves around the individual needs and preferences of older adults and their families.

Partnerships and Outreach

As part of their commitment to disseminating these invaluable tools, FAIR Health is collaborating with four prominent clinical institutions recognized for their age-friendly health systems: the University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Emory University. Through these partnerships, clinicians are actively integrating FAIR Health’s decision-making resources into their practice, providing patients and caregivers with actionable toolkits that include checklists, educational content, and pertinent resource links.

According to Rani E. Snyder, Vice President of Programs at The John A. Hartford Foundation, the needs of older adults managing Alzheimer’s disease are diverse, and having comprehensive, age-friendly care is essential. The launch of such decision-making tools will empower families by offering insights into care options and related costs, ultimately supporting their planning and management efforts.

Accessing the Resources

Those interested in accessing the free Alzheimer’s care tools and educational materials can visit the Alzheimer’s Disease section on the FAIR Health for Older Adults website. A Spanish version of the resources is also available, ensuring that language is not a barrier to access important health information.

For healthcare professionals seeking to leverage these tools in their practice, they are encouraged to reach out to FAIR Health's Clinical Liaison for more information on implementation and usage with patients.

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is dedicated to enhancing transparency in healthcare costs and health insurance. With the nation’s largest collection of commercial healthcare claims data, FAIR Health provides essential data products, consumer resources, and research support for health systems. Committed to improving healthcare accessibility, the organization aims to empower consumers with the knowledge they need to plan for their healthcare needs efficiently.

To learn more about FAIR Health and its initiatives, please visit fairhealth.org.