Aroostook Memory Care Center
The UMaine Center on Aging is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the Aroostook Agency on Aging to evaluate a newly developed comprehensive resource center for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their caregivers. The Aroostook Memory Care Center, based in Presque Isle and serving the entirety of Aroostook County, is being developed through a grant of nearly one million dollars from the Administration for Community Living. The Center is currently in development and will be opening soon.
Residents of Aroostook County seeking information and care related to dementia have faced access barriers in the past, including waitlists for services, significant travel times to access care, and lack of care providers. The establishment of the Memory Care Center will be key to easing these barriers and supporting the well-being of patients and caregivers.
Services through the Memory Care Center will include Dementia Care Coordination that will provide screening, access to information, and referral for more in-depth assessment and care through a partnership with the Acadia Hospital Mood and Memory Clinic. Caregiver-focused services include one-on-one expert consultation on caregiving needs, respite care, support groups, and training on hands-on caregiving skills. The Center is also working closely with primary care practices to build capacity for dementia care, as well as training local organizations to be gatekeepers who can identify and provide initial support for people with dementia care needs.
In the role of evaluator, the Center on Aging will be working with the Memory Care Center to understand the impact of the Center on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers in areas such as access to resources, well-being, and quality of life. The Center on Aging will also be conducting a process evaluation to help the Memory Care Center refine its services.
If you have questions about the Aroostook Memory Care Center project, please contact David Wihry, Senior Project Manager with the UMaine Center on Aging, at david.wihry@maine.edu.