A recent grant awarded by Bader Philanthropies is set to advance research aimed at developing essential self-care guidelines for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This initiative seeks to fill a significant gap in support resources for patients, helping to improve their quality of life through structured self-care strategies.
Priya Nambisan, an associate professor of biostatistics and health informatics at the Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), is spearheading the project. Nambisan’s expertise in health informatics positions her to effectively lead this initiative, which promises to offer valuable insights into patient self-care practices.
The project will leverage an existing web platform known as myHESTIA (my Healing Ecosystem for Self-care and Therapeutic Integration for the Aging). This platform has already undergone pilot testing, demonstrating its potential as a comprehensive digital resource that facilitates self-care. With an impressive array of over 50 customizable trackers, myHESTIA allows users to monitor various health conditions and symptoms. This versatility is particularly important for dementia patients, who often experience multifaceted symptoms requiring varied management approaches.
Key features of myHESTIA include memory aids, health reminders, and health trackers, as well as tools designed to foster social connections among users. By providing these resources, the project aims to empower individuals in the early stages of dementia, enhancing their self-efficacy in managing their health. Improved self-care practices not only benefit the patients themselves but can also significantly alleviate the associated burden on caregivers, who often face considerable emotional and physical strain.
The funding for this innovative two-year project, amounting to ,000 from Bader Philanthropies, underscores the growing recognition of the need for tailored self-care solutions in the field of dementia care. As populations age and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and related conditions continues to rise, initiatives like this are crucial for ensuring that individuals with dementia have access to effective support systems that promote their physical, mental, and social well-being.
This research not only aims to produce actionable self-care guidelines but also hopes to set a precedent for the integration of technology into patient support strategies in public health. By enhancing self-care protocols, the project aspires to create a more sustainable and empathetic care environment for dementia patients and their caregivers alike, contributing to the broader discourse on aging and health management in contemporary society.
