In Michigan, 240,000 persons have dementia, an impairment in thinking abilities that persists long enough and is severe enough to interfere with daily functions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Other diseases that cause dementia include Lewy Body disease, vascular disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

New product available:  "Developing Meaningful Connections with People with Dementia: A Training Manual" is a resource on dementia education for direct care workers. The primary goal is to provide staff trainers throughout long term care with step-by-step instruction and materials to educate direct care workers on knowledge about dementia and ways to enhance their care of persons with dementia.

The packet includes the manual with content and instructions for presentations, classroom exercises, case studies and discussions (download Training Manual PDF). In addition, effective and interactive training strategies are included in the manual, which is aligned with the Dementia Competencies Guide of the Michigan Dementia Coalition. An accompanying CD with photos, handouts and powerpoint slides and a DVD of vignettes are available in limited quantity by contacting Marcia Cameron . A Federal Community Mental Health Block Grant funded the update and production of the manual. The materials may be copied for widespread use.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Public Health Administration helps support the Michigan Dementia Coalition, a coalition of community agencies, universities, dementia caregivers, and units of the state government concerned about dementia. MDCH also helps to fund dementia information and referral services through various Michigan Dementia Coalition agencies.

A Michigan Dementia Plan guides MDCH and the Michigan Dementia Coalition in its efforts to reduce the burden of dementia in Michigan. The Plan can be viewed as a comprehensive documentor as a summary.

Call (800) 272-3900 or visit the website of the Michigan Dementia Coalitionfor more information.

Recommended Links

Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association
www.alzgmc.org/

Huntington's Disease Society of America - Michigan Chapter
www.qix.net/~bergdd/

Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc.
http://www.lewybodydementia.org/

Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Sitemaker.med.umich.edu/madrc

Michigan Great Lakes Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association
www.alzmigreatlakes.org/

Michigan Parkinson Foundation
www.parkinsonsmi.org