Asian Pacific Islander Dementia Care Network

The Asian Pacific Islander Dementia Care Network in Los Angeles (API DCN) addresses gaps in the community-based continuum of care for Asian Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders by expanding culturally and linguistically competent services for caregivers and building the capacity of community-based partner agencies in Los Angeles. Asian Pacific Islander Dementia Care Network is a 2010 recipient of The Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Award for the Diverse & Multicultural Communities category.

Organization:

Alzheimer’s Los Angeles

Alzheimer’s Los Angeles is the leading community-based health organization providing programs that address the needs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their families in LA County. Alzheimer’s LA’s mission is to improve the lives of families affected by dementia by increasing awareness; delivering effective programs and services; providing compassionate support; and advocating for quality care and a cure. Founded by concerned family caregivers in 1981, for over 41 years, Alzheimer’s LA has been the leading community-based health organization providing programs that address the needs of ethnically and socio-economically diverse people living with ADRD and their families in LA County.

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

How does it work?

The overall aim of the project is to enhance the capacity of a community-based network of health, aging and ethnic support service providers to better serve caregivers of older adults with dementia. The project seeks to address the specific needs of API caregivers in Los Angeles, California by building on community strengths and addressing gaps in the service continuum that have been identified through a needs assessment and community based asset mapping.

Why is it successful?

In July 2000, the API DCN first began targeting family caregivers of individuals with dementia (Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese communities in the Bay Area and L.A.). Four years later, the project’s second cycle expanded to include Korean (Los Angeles) and Vietnamese (Orange County.) families. The next cycle (2009), expanded efforts in the Chinese and Japanese communities and begins services for Filipinos in L.A. Through participating DCN agencies, caregivers receive culturally-appropriate assistance from care counselors who provide support, education about the disease, and how to care for the caregiver, service referrals, translation, and subsidized respite care referrals.