Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support – CAlz Connect Program

As part of a grant from the Administration for Community Living, the California Department of Aging contracts with the Marin Center for Independent Living, the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging, and Ventura County Area Agency on Aging to provide free support for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

You can locate the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) in your area by selecting your county on the Find Services in My County page of this website.

CAlz Connect is a new program being offered in Marin, Imperial, and Ventura Counties, designed to improve the quality of life for individuals living with dementia and decrease the burden that caregivers may face.

This is a free six-month program for people living with dementia and their caregivers. A trained community health worker will reach out to the participants via telephone/Zoom once or twice a month to help with topics that are of interest to the participants. The community health worker will provide dementia information and education; work with the family to develop a plan of care; connect families with community services/supports; and aid in care transitions.

The community health worker will help with topics such as:

• Staying healthy
• Preventing injuries
• Accessing community resources
• Coping with stress
• Reviewing medication lists

This program uses an evidence-based model (Care Ecosystem, developed by UCSF). The community health workers are supported by a nurse, social worker, and pharmacist. 

The program serves persons living with dementia and their adult caregivers. This includes persons with an intellectual or developmental disability who also have Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

To qualify for the program, the person living with dementia must meet all these criteria:

• Has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia and is over 45 years old.
• Has a person (18+ years old) who helps them who is willing to participate in the program.
• Is living in Marin, Imperial, or Ventura County (or their caregiver is).
• Is not living in a skilled nursing facility or memory care community (people living in independent living or assisted living communities are eligible).
• Is not already involved in a similar dementia care support program, where a care coordinator is reaching out to them regularly, providing dementia education, developing a plan of care, and connecting the family with community resources.

CAlz Connect community health workers are bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

This program is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the California Department of Aging totaling $750,000 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Program adapted from the Care Ecosystem.