What is the Consortium on Alzheimer's Research and Education
(CARE) Program?
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The CARE Program, an activity of the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), Special Projects on Aging, is a network of independent living, assisted living, and long-term care facilities linked with UNTHSC. UNTHSC researchers and faculty physicians will work with providers on research, education and training, devoted to the evaluation, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The combined efforts of the Consortium members are designed to improve staff performance and the quality of care delivered to residents with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. This program is the result of a unique partnership between UNTHSC and Heritage Housing Development, Inc., a non-profit company. The Consortium includes Heritage facilities and other senior housing and health care providers in the United States. |
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The CARE Program works closely with the Gerontology Assessment and Planning (GAP) Program. The GAP Program specializes in the care of persons 65 and older by providing comprehensive assessments of their medical, housing, physical, mental, nutritional and social needs. This program IS Linder the direction of Dr. Janice Knebl, Chief, Division of Geriatrics at UNTHSC.
FOCUS: Research Program
The research efforts of the CARE Program will utilize a central database
of resident and facility information for addressing questions related
to the diagnosis, treatment and cure of Alzheimer's disease. This centralized
database will be used for conducting clinical trials and basic science
research. In addition, this database will be used for a variety of other
issues confronting providers including the development of assessment
tools for assisted living residents, the evaluation of specific clinical
approaches and ways to improve staff performance.
FOCUS: Education and Training Program
In-service education and information programs have been developed to
improve the staff's knowledge of dementia and to enhance the staff's
ability to deliver high quality of care to residents. These training
programs have been designed to be delivered to staff prior to employment
as well as assisting with their continuing education needs. In addition,
CARE Program facilities are used as training sites for physicians, nurses,
physician assistants and other health care professionals.
FOCUS: State Linkages
As a result of Texas Legislation, the University of North Texas Health
Science Center Care Program is part of a research consortium of Texas
Alzheimer's Disease Centers. In addition to UNTHSC, the consortium currently
consists of Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine, Lubbock, Texas-based
Texas Tech University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas. This consortium is operating under the direction of
the Austin, Texas?based Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Disorders, a state mandated entity formed in 1987 to advise the Texas
Department of Health on strategies to educate the public about Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias (ADRD).
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