Business proposal and peer review feedback

Economic Analysis

In the year 2012, 5.4 million Americans of different age groups where diagnosed with having Alzheimer’s, which is categorized as one of the common forms of dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association, 2012). A research study in Washtenaw County, Michigan showcased more than 180,000 people affected by dementia, which also affected the wellbeing of estimated 504,550 caregivers. The data reported the 10.5% of the caregiver’s population fell under the 65 years old age group. This percentage of the population has more chances of having the numbers rise in the upcoming ten years. Washtenaw County is populated by 350,003 people, which 4,805 tend to suffer from dementia (Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease). This town generally provides six supportive services for the ones caring for the family members suffering from dementia. This kind of statistical support greatly influences the need for extending the services and resources presented throughout Michigan for all individuals suffering from dementia and also for their caregivers (The Michigan Dementia Coalition, 2010).

Dementia has the potential to devastate caregiver’s financial and personal life and also impose great burden on the state’s economy. “The family caregivers basically link several costs as part of the care for their loved ones. These costs are: indirect costs (such as lost wages from missed work), direct costs (medical care), along with unpredictable costs that include emotional, mental, physical pain and sufferings” (Heidenbrink, 2010).

There is a number of older adults with the disease increasing at great rate, which then transfers to family and the stress and stress related illness that come with it. The stress of these caregivers gradually leads to various burdens that also lead to reduced interactions with other family members; this can include isolation, depression and reduced life satisfaction (Heidenbrink, 2010). “It has also been found that stress caused by providing care for the persons suffering with dementia have been impactful to the individual’s immune system, thereby, raising their potential of developing a deadly illness themselves” (The Michigan Dementia Coalition, 2010). This also comes along with the financial devastation that follows after individual have being diagnosed with the disease. This leads to wreak and havoc on the caregivers, which causes a trickledown effect into the economy. Based on the data provided, in order to decrease the negative impacts that dementia imposes on caregivers, it is proposed that focus goes into requirements of programs for the caretakers of people with dementia of Washtenaw County.

Outcome Goal

The goal of the Dementia Care Program is to provide the caregivers with respite that will help their stress levels and overall health status. Understanding what causes the disease and its effects on the population is a step forward in preventing the dementia from increasing which can then help the government plan a public health plan which should target in eradicating dementia completely. Advances in research are a sure way of eventually eliminating the disease and providing and enhancing care and support for all the affected. Providing supportive organization can help dementia patient caretakers reduce the risk of stress and other related stress disorders.

Project Narrative

The Dementia Care Program will be implemented by Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw (CSSW) and will be focusing on working to reduce the level of burden of the caregiver’s in order to ensure improved health (Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, 2007-2010). The most vital aspect of the program deals with the implementation of a volunteering programs with around twelve actively participating volunteers offering their time in relieving the caregivers once a week. It will be serving thirty to forty clients, providing caregivers with monthly ten hours of free relief care. Secondly, the program will be holding an educational session at the start of each month for new assisted caregivers in this program. In such sessions, the program will be educating the caregivers on the various methods related to the care of the patients suffering from dementia and will be educating them about other services offered at CSSW. Also, the program will be providing referrals for caregivers who require therapy (at lower cost or for free); of these referrals, some will be in the CSSW. At last, the Program Director will be attending dementia conference every year. This conference will be helping the Director in understanding the struggles that the caregivers encounter and the ways of helping them through the program (like ways for decreasing stress and increasing the overall health).

The Dementia Care Program implementation in CSSW will start in the month of January, 2015. The first thing that will be done, is conduct interviews for all the volunteers and program director. This will be taking place in the month of November and December and in the month of January, the Director will be training the volunteers. By the end of January, the program should be having a total clientele. Then in the month of February, the program will be administering the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), which is a survey to the caregivers before the beginning of the volunteering program in order to measure various objectives and outcomes.

Evaluation Plan

As previously mentioned, the outcome of the program is to increase the health of the caregivers, thus decreasing their burden levels. The DASS is a standardized and qualitative 42-unit self-report utilized for assessing the levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Participants read out a qualitative statement and will circle a numeric value such as 0, 1, 2, or 3, where each pertains to the level the question is applicable to them. The answers are in a range starting with "not at all" to "very much." A statement sample involves: “I felt sad and depressed” (Psychology Foundation of Australia, 2013). The administering goal of the DASS is to display a lowering in the caregiver’s stress and an upgrade in their health. The other goal is to do a post evaluation in order to measure how effective the program is to the clients of this particular community. The end results will be displayed in the agency’s annual in order to then stablish the budget. As mentioned, the survey will indicate and evaluate changes in the levels of stress and the generalized health of the caregivers.

January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014

Total Budget: 55,500

Total Amount: 44,500

Total Contributions: 11,500

Conclusion

As previously reported, more than 5 million Americans of different age groups where diagnosed having Alzheimer’s in the year 2012. Alzheimer is a form of dementia when categorizing the disease. It has been established that dementia has the potential to devastate caregiver’s financial and personal life and also impose great burden on the state’s economy. The proposed program, “Dementia Care Program,” will assist in education families and relieving their level of stress, thus promoting healthy physical and mental health for the caregivers of this population.

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association, 8(2), 1-72, (2012). Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2012.pdf

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (2007-2010). Retrieved from: http://csswashtenaw.org/

Heidenbrink, J. (2010). Caregiver Support Services Needs for Patients with Alzheimer Disease. Michigan Experts, 2424(2):171-176.Retrieved from http://http://experts.umich.edu/pubDetail.asp?

The Michigan Dementia Coalition, (2010). Resources: Washtenaw County. Retrieved from web site: http://www.dementiacoalition.org/resources/countydata.php