The Alzheimer’s Association in North Carolina, in partnership with The North Carolina Rural Health Leadership Alliance (NCRHLA), will be hosting a virtual Alzheimer’s Community Forum, Challenges and Opportunities: Alzheimer’s & Dementia in Rural NC, in April to hear from local area residents of rural communities statewide.
The forum is a gathering for people who have been affected by Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the disease, discuss their experiences and needs, learn about resources and discover how to engage in the cause. Bring a friend and share your thoughts about how the Association can help more people in rural communities across North Carolina.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Attendees may participate via video or phone. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required, so webinar link & phone number can be provided.
To register:
- ONLINE
- By Phone: 800-272-3900
About The North Carolina Rural Health Leadership Alliance:
NCRHLA exists to connect all organizations interested in strengthening rural health in North Carolina. NCRHLA is founded on the idea that collaboration is needed, and a forward-looking approach is required to improve rural health. Many of North Carolina’s public health organizations are widely spread and siloed, not assembled under one coordinating entity. NCRHLA serves as this important hub, a single organizer whose role it is to convene, foster, share, advocate and offer a unified voice that promotes better rural health for our state.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 
In rural Eastern North Carolina, The Outer Banks, our situation is very unique. We are a very long island with about 33,000 full time residents. That in itself creates challenges. There are many people to serve in a very scattered area. We do not have a neurologist or a gerontologist in Dare County. All of our residents with dementia have to travel at least an hour or more to receive specialty care. When caring for a person with dementia the travel can be very stressful for both the caregiver and the person living with dementia. Transportation can also be a challenge. We have very limited “public transportation” that normally won’t travel outside our county. We have one nursing home and one assisted living and 3 home care companies. We do not have an adult day care. Our hospital is Dementia Friendly and do a great job but they do not have an ICU which is needed in a lot of cases. To say that our resources are limited is an understatement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dianne – Thank you so much for this valuable insight. We are passing along your thoughts to the team hosting our Rural NC event. If you haven’t already, we’d really love for you to join our discussion during the forum, because what you shared is exactly they type of information we are hoping to discuss during that event.
LikeLiked by 1 person