The Neuroscience Department at Marquette General Health System received a three-year, $90,000 grant from the Helen Bader Foundation to assist the Memory Diagnostic Center in providing ongoing caregiver support to families caring for a loved one diagnosed with memory loss. This grant will assist the Neuroscience department in service provision from 2008 to 2010.
The Helen Bader Foundation works with community partners to support programs and research that helps individuals reach their fullest potential. While Wisconsin based programs are a primary focus, the foundation does reach out across a variety of states to help other communities with similar goals. Created to further one woman’s dreams and aspirations, the Foundation brings local and regional partners together to share ideas, build coalitions, and work towards common objectives. One of the Foundations primary funding interests is Alzheimer’s disease and aging.
Helen Bader served many roles in her life—student, mother, businesswoman, and social worker—each of which helped shaped her outlook on those in need. Today Helen’s youngest son, Daniel Bader, serves as President of the foundation and continues the charitable mission set forth by his mother.
Dr. Roman Politi, neurologist and expert on dementia, is the medical director of the Memory Diagnostic Center. The Center is able to provide a team approach to managing memory problems and the grant resources allows for the provision of ongoing social services to families after diagnosis. Irreversible dementing disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can benefit from coordinated medical and social management. This is of particular concern in the Upper Peninsula where it is conservatively estimated that about 4% of the population suffers from dementia.
“It is important to provide families with information, support and referrals to community resources after diagnosis,” said Julie Kemp-Havican, social worker and coordinator of the grant funded program. “Many people feel overwhelmed at the time of diagnosis or at other points in the disease process, such as when changes in levels of care needs occur. It can help just to have someone point you in the right directions.”
About the Memory Diagnostic Center: The Memory Diagnostic Center originated in November of 1999 at the Tobin Center in Ishpeming and currently offers two clinic days a month in Ishpeming at the Tobin Center and two days at Neurology Associates which is located in the skywalk at Marquette General Health System in Marquette. The Memory Diagnostic Center provides a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and provides recommendations for daily living. With the assistance of grant resources, ongoing case management and caregiver support after diagnosis can also be provided to family members.
For more information about this project or the Memory Diagnostic Center, call Kemp-Havican at 906-225-3405 or 1-800-562-9753, ext. 3405.