Episode 31: Professional Caregivers Insight: What is Alzheimer’s Disease

Approximately 6.5 million individuals in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As the population ages, the prevalence of these conditions continues to rise. For professional caregivers and aging services professionals, understanding Alzheimer’s and implementing best practices for person-centered care is crucial.

In today’s ComForConnections episode, we are joined by Dr. Heather McKay, an Occupational Therapist and Dementia Care Specialist at Partnerships for Health. She will share her insights on Alzheimer’s disease and its progression, as well as best practice strategies for supporting individuals diagnosed with the disease.

Click to listen to this episode:

Tune in for insights and resources from Heather McKay, PhD, OTR/L, Consulting Occupational Therapist and Dementia Care Specialist, Co-Creator of DementiaWise® – Partnerships for Health.

About Heather: 
Dr. Heather McKay is an occupational therapist, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Appalachian State University, and among the country’s leading experts in dementia care and caregiver education. As the founder of Partnerships for Health, a dementia care consulting company based in North Carolina, Dr. McKay’s experience is remarkable for her breadth of clinical work and teaching with blended dementia care teams nationwide. She has collaborated to enhance dementia care training for healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, and informal caregivers in hospitals, long-term care, non-medical home care, home health, hospice, and community-based programs. In her research with inter-professional partners, Dr. McKay focuses on creating and testing theory-driven, team-centered interventions that improve life for people living with the disease and their myriad caregivers– throughout the progression of the disease across various care environments. Some of her latest work in dementia workforce development was recently published in The Gerontologist, as well as occupational therapy journals in the US, Canada, and Scandinavia.

Episode Notes:

• An overview of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• A look at some of the science behind Alzheimer’s disease, including hallmarks of the condition
• What to look for and what makes Alzheimer’s disease distinct from all the other types of dementia
• The progression of Alzheimer’s disease over time
• Helpful home care strategies that have worked for families and professionals to create days that are more meaningful, safe, and pleasant for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers

Episode Resources:

• DementiaWise® – ComForCare
• Alzheimer’s Care – ComForCare
• ComForCare.com
• Partnerships for Health 
• Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Facts and Figures
• Alzheimer’s Association Best Practices for Person-Centered Dementia Care
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America