Alzheimer’s Family Center (AFC) has been awarded a $100,000 one-year grant from Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian to help address the transportation needs of senior patients.
AFC’s transportation service focuses exclusively on safely bringing our patients—all of whom have a dementia diagnosis—to our facility for adult day health care services. In partnership with an independent vendor, the drivers, vans and routes provide specialized, ADA-compliant (American Disabilities Act) round trips on a door-to-door basis. Our program operates year-round, Monday through Saturday.
Because of the nature of our patient population’s diagnosis, they require specialized transportation. Some use walkers or are in wheelchairs, making handicap accessible vans a necessity. Drivers are specifically trained to provide safe, reliable transportation that respects each patient’s dignity.
With Hoag’s funding assistance, AFC is removing the most common barrier to accessing our life-enhancing health care services for our senior population: door-to-door, specialized transportation. We expect to coordinate over 30,000 specialized ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant round trips for memory-impaired adult day health care patients during the period of the grant.
AFC’s Chief Executive Officer, Joanna Richardson-Jones, expressed her gratitude at the news. “We are overwhelmed by Hoag’s generosity,” she said. “They are not only supporting our mission to improve the quality of life for our patients, but also giving caregivers more peace of mind. With this grant for transportation services, AFC continues to help families through this challenging journey. Hoag’s largesse has helped make that possible.”
About Alzheimer’s Family Center
Alzheimer’s Family Center (AFC) is Orange County’s only adult day health care facility dedicated exclusively to caring for dementia patients. AFC has a 40-year history of improving the quality of life of families challenged by memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Patients benefit through customized programming tailored to the needs of each individual, from the earliest to the most advanced stages of dementia. Families find respite from the demands of caregiving, and the assurance that their loved one is receiving expert memory care, delivered with dignity and respect.
Recent studies show that AFC makes a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of its patients. Our patients experience over 50% fewer falls and a 33% reduction in emergency room visits within 12 months of enrollment in AFC’s programs. As a result, AFC family caregivers find the responsibilities of caregiving to be more manageable when their loved ones are home, away from the center. AFC also provides family caregivers with support and referrals to manage the medical, emotional, and financial challenges of caring for a memory-impaired loved one.
Submitted By:
Linda Abbit, M.S.
Community Outreach Manager
Alzheimer’s Family Center
