Mind, Mood, Mobility: Supporting Independence Among Rural Older Adults at Risk for Functional Decline.

Rural communities need access to effective interventions that can prevent functional decline among a growing population of older adults. We describe the conceptual framework and rationale for a multicomponent intervention ("Mind, Mood, Mobility") delivered by Area Agency on Aging staff for rural older adults at risk for functional decline due to early impairments in cognition, mood, or mobility. Our proposed model utilizes primary care to identify at-risk older adults, combines evidence-based interventions that address multiple risk factors simultaneously, and leverages a community-based aging services workforce for intervention delivery.

Care coordinator assistants: Job satisfaction and the importance of teamwork in delivering person-centered dementia care.

As the prevalence of persons with dementia increases, a larger, trained, and skilled healthcare workforce is needed. Attention has been given to models of person-centered care as a standard for dementia care. One promising role to deliver person-centered care is the care coordinator assistant.

Ongoing Medical Management to Maximize Health and Well-being for Persons Living With Dementia.

Background And Objectives: Persons living with dementia have complex care needs including memory loss that should be taken into account by providers and family caregivers involved with their care. The prevalence of comorbid conditions in people with dementia is high and, thus, how primary care, community providers and family caregivers provide best practice care, person-centered care is important.

Research Design And Methods: Care providers should understand the ongoing medical management needs of persons living with dementia in order to maximize their quality of life, proactively plan for their anticipated needs, and be as well prepared as possible for health crises that may occur.