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P4‐290: Alzi‐connect: A novel audiovisual communication system to connect caregivers to Alzheimer's association chapters
Author(s) -
Tousi Babak,
Kanetsky Cheryl,
Udelson Nancy
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.08.120
Subject(s) - conversation , association (psychology) , memory clinic , service (business) , the internet , psychology , medicine , medical education , nursing , computer science , psychiatry , world wide web , cognition , communication , business , psychotherapist , marketing , cognitive impairment
Project Description:Alzheimer’s Association (AA) has the mission to provide and enhance care and support for all affected. At the current practice settings, there is not enough time or staff to provide education, especially for recently diagnosed ones and their family at physician’s office. The Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter has implemented a novel approach for individuals to connect to helpful information about memory loss and the Chapter’s free services at the physician’s office. ALZ i-connect allows users to visually connect with AA staff via Skype for an initial conversation addressing the many questions and concerns they have about memory and thinking disorders, especially soon after receiving a diagnosis in a private setting. This project is being piloted at two memory assessment clinics of Cleveland Clinic as a way to enable assessment center staff the opportunity to connect families right away with the free support services available at the Association. The Association provides a TV with camera to the site location, which is then connected to the internet service available at that location. Site staff receives a brief in-service by AA on how to use the equipment and easily connect their patients to the service. Assessment Center staff offer the opportunity for an individual to speak to someone at the Association “in-person” through ALZiconnect and makes the click to initiate the call after the clinic visit. Results: Here, we present the 1st year survey results. 59 Surveys were sent to assess the experience of caregiver with this novel approach of communicating with Alzheimer’s Association. The results reflect the responds from returned surveys. 81% of responders reported feeling comfortable during the skype session. 90% found that the presented information was clear and helpful. 81% reported this audiovisual call was beneficial. 72% thought that the ALZiconnect call was an efficient way of communicating and gathering information from the association, while only 18% would have preferred a different means of communication with the association. Conclusions:ALZiconnect seems to be an innovative efficient and beneficial approach to connect the caregivers to AA. That can be a complementary approach to the currently available helplines and to reach remote centers.