ALAMOSA— The Alzheimer’s Association held a community forum on Tuesday at the Trinidad State Junior College Alamosa Campus.

Ann Carter, Region Director for the Alzheimer’s Association, hosted the forum, and there were 37 people in attendance.

Using leaders from across Alamosa County, the forum was presented in a town-hall format  to help identify needs, challenges and opportunities in serving families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

The meeting first provided an overview regarding the disease, available services and programs, as well as some updates on Alzheimer’s research.

Executive Director for San Luis Valley Community Action Tonya Owsley said Carter “covered most of the bases. For people to start getting involved.”

Most importantly, there was a discussion incorporating an all-inclusive look at the challenge of serving a growing segment of the population affected. By bringing together a broad spectrum of regional leaders who interact with people with dementia and their caregivers, this meeting took a first step toward an effective roadmap for the future. The discussion addressed gaps in the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, barriers affecting accessibility to essential community services, resources and positive solutions.

“I was very impressed with the attendance of the community,” Owsley said. “I was very impressed with how the word got around.

“It was a very easy discussion for a complicated disease.”

The meeting was co-facilitated by Monica Wolfe, Director of the Area Agency on Aging. In addition to the general public, there was representation from both Senator Michael Bennet  and Congressman Scott Tipton’s offices, the Alamosa County Administration,  the Department of Human Services and Single Entry Point, EMS/Fire Department, case managers and administrators from Valley Wide Health.

Also represented were Alamosa Family Medical Center and SLV Health Hospital,  Hospice de Valle, Home Health Care agencies, Center for Self Reliance, Trinidad State College Nursing 

Department and at least one member of the faith community.

Several from the audience were very engaged in the discussion that followed a 30-minute presentation. Recurring themes included:

1) a pervasive stigma and a general gap in knowledge among members of the general public about Alzheimer’s Disease, and where to go for services, programs, and assistance;

2) the need for increased awareness in Alamosa, including a directed campaign to better educate our medical community, as well as encourage those health care professionals to be proactive and precise in terms of testing, sharing the specifics of the dementia diagnosis with their patients and families, and referring these families to the Association (of the caregivers in the forum, none were ever referred to the AA by their physician);

3) concern that the Caregiver support group that had been in Alamosa was never well-attended (precipitating the move to Monte Vista, which is 17 miles away);

4) the need for more collaborative efforts among all partners and stakeholders within the community; e.g., specific sharing of information from the Alzheimer’s Association (including available services and programs, and how to make client referrals);

5) the need for more volunteers from the community — volunteers to be trained by the Alzheimer’s Association to help identify fundraising opportunities, distribute literature, teach classes and possibly start another support group; and

6)  the need for the community to better address barriers affecting caregivers; i.e.,

“The information was very valuable and as we come across friends, family or those in need of information or support, we can give them the resources from the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Alamosa County Administrator Gigi Dennis, in reference to Carter’s forum.

Dennis went on to describe the work that Carter does to inform the Valley about Alzheimer’s.

“She’s a one-woman show and so she would love to have volunteers from this area concerning this terrible disease,” Dennis added.