Raleigh Geriatric Care Management Joins CARE-PAC (Community Alzheimer's Research Exchange for Patients and Caregivers
Posted: 09-29-2009 : RALEIGH, N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. – At a recent training seminar in Boston, GCMs were not surprised to hear directly from care giving families that Alzheimer’s patients are often misdiagnosed or ignored by the front line medical professionals. “As a professional Geriatric Care Manager, I often see this,” said Lauren Watral. “It’s not that people don’t care; the problem is just too overwhelming. Doctors cannot dedicate the amount of time necessary to diagnose and support an Alzheimer’s patient. One family was told to go home and do crossword puzzles. “

Even when there is a diagnosis, there are limited standard medical services provided to relieve the burden that these families face. Sometimes the only thing they would like to leave the doctor’s office with is some guidance and a little ray of hope. Unfortunately both are in very short supply.

“The first time I saw a glimmer of hope among the panel of Alzheimer’s patients and their families was when they started to discuss changes in their lives after beginning participation in a clinical research trial. This new feeling didn’t come from the hopes that some new drug was going to help them but from the mere fact that a highly responsive team of professionals was immediately available; a team who respected them, treated them with compassion, and recognized the dual effort to someday conquer the beast.” “I can’t describe the obvious change in attitude that the families displayed! If you work with Alzheimer’s families and caregivers, the right attitude is your ‘survival weapon of choice.’ ” said Watral.

“I learned that many clinical trials exist for dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers. The few families who are lucky enough to participate in these trials find a haven of support, medical treatment, advice and importance. They discover a little bucket of hope to help get through the day.”

CARE-PAC (Community Alzheimer’s Research Exchange for Patients and Caregivers) is a set of services provided by eldercare professionals-- to include the discipline of a Geriatric Care Manager—assisting families challenged in an Alzheimer’s care giving situation. CARE-PAC Coordinators educate to families the availability of new Alzheimer’s treatments to include clinical trials in which they might be able to participate. Families learn of the advantages of clinical trial participation: one being referred to a local Alzheimer’s clinical trial site for further optional information and screening. A Geriatric Care Manager will perform a telephone interview prior to an in-home visit and pre-screen the patient to ensure they have a reasonable chance to qualify before being referred to a local research site.

If you are a family or professional caregiver of a patient with dementia or Alzheimer’s in the Raleigh Durham area contact your local CARE-PAC coordinator: Lauren Watral, MSW, Geriatric Care Manager, Raleigh Geriatric Care Management, LLC. 919-803-8025 or email: lwatral@rgcmgmt.com.