AHRQ & Sycamore Village Assisted Living Partner in an Alzheimer’s Research Study

Swansea, IL – Dr. Virginia Cruz, Associate Professor of Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality task force, has partnered with Sycamore Village Assisted Living to study, and potentially correct, behavioral issues associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Sycamore Village was specifically chosen for the study because they specialize in, and are specially trained for, caring for residents with Alzheimer’s Disease and other memory loss disorders.

At the start of the study, the behavior of Sycamore’s residents will be rated one a scale from 1 (No Cognitive Decline) to 7 (Very Severe Cognitive Decline). Dr. Cruz will then conduct a 4-part educational intervention session with the Sycamore staff. The sessions will cover the following information:

¬ Education about the Alzheimer’s Disease process
¬ Explanation of the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) psycho-educational training program
¬ The four group clustering of dementia symptoms: Intellectual Loss; Emotional Loss; Loss of Ability to Plan Activities; and Catastrophic Behaviors
¬ Interventions for managing behavior problems as they relate to:
o Care
o Bathing
o Wandering
o Aggressiveness
o and Nutritional Deficiency

Once the staff has completed this highly specialized training and have applied their new training for two months, the behavior of the residents will be reassessed. Dr. Cruz believes that once the program has taken effect, on average, there will be significant improvement in the behaviors of the residents.

“We are very excited and honored that Dr. Cruz chose us to be a part of the study” remarked Kendra Garnto, Sycamore’s Administrator. “This could improve the lives of our current and future residents. We also plan to incorporate the training in our community education efforts and workshops in order to help the at-home caregiver care for their loved one with Alzheimer’s,” she added.
Sycamore Village partners with many local, regional and national organizations to ensure access to the highest levels of care for residents and families, as well as the community at large. Sycamore’s staff has undergone training specially designed by the Alzheimer’s Association and has earned the distinction of being name a Center of Excellence in Dementia Care by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Sycamore also hosts monthly caregivers support groups as well as regular educational seminars for the public.

If you have any questions about the important work of Sycamore Village and the Alzheimer’s Association visit Sycamore Village - 225 Castellano Drive - Swansea, IL 62226 or online at http://sycamorevillage.net/ and call Dana Miller at (618) 222-2571 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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