The Dementia Care Coordination Program is a referral-based program based on a Veterans Administration demonstration study that showed that an evidence-informed intervention could help to improve outcomes and decrease utilization. The program is a partnership between The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter (The Alzheimer’s Association) and BCBSRI and is designed to assist caregivers in managing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The Dementia Care Coordination Program works as follows:

• Referrals are typically initiated by the member’s PCP or other treating provider’s care manager. The care manager and/or other identified referral source makes a secure referral to the vendor via fax, email, or a HIPAA-compliant online form.
• The Alzheimer’s Association will have a Master’s level social worker (a memory specialist) make a proactive call to the family caregiver to schedule a care consultation within five to seven days from date of referral. The consultation is personalized and usually an hour long, followed by a written care plan sent to the caregiver and a summary of the care plan sent to the referrer as well as the primary care physician, if the family allows.
• The program is focused on providing the caregiver with strategies and resources to increase their chance of success in caring for their loved one.
• The full program lasts for approximately six months. A total of three calls are made to the caregiver during the six-month timeframe to assess progress and provide resources as needed.
   
  Access the program referral form here.