Claire M. Henry has over 16 years of experience developing Alzheimer's care units and wants to pursue a doctorate to better educate caregivers of low-income individuals with dementia. Her goal is to create training modules that identify the needs of underprivileged caregivers, which often include a lack of diagnosis, limited medical care, and few support systems. With dementia cases rising worldwide, especially in low-to-middle income countries, there is a need for more awareness and policies to assist these caregivers through education of health professionals.

1. Claire M. Henry
151A Railroad Avenue
Norwood Ma. 02062
(781)540-1526
Email:caringresources@yahoo.com
Educating Underprivileged Caregivers and Higher Education
Background
Claire M. Henry, M.Ed., CDP. Masters level Clinician and Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Lourdes Memory Center Director whose aim is to enhance the quality of life for those
individuals with Alzheimer’s and other related behavioral diseases. Responsibilities include
managing and coordination of all staff within the memory care unit; evaluating clinical service
functions to provide optimum care for each individual within the Lourdes Center. Has been
directly involved in developing and opening Alzheimer Special Care Units in Massachusetts
for the last 16 years. Qualifications were sought out to bring the Lourdes Center to its new
phase. Emphasis has been on developing partnerships with families and creating tailored
resident care profiles which promotes the highest quality of care for each resident.
Participates in weekly rounds with medical director, while coordinating behavioral
interdisciplinary rounds with psychiatry. Functions as an accomplished educator with
demonstrated ability toteach, motivate clinicians, physicians and educators, while
maintaining high interest and achievement.
Purpose
My mission is to enhance clinical skills of the student, while determining the needs of low the
income caregiver. The doctoral program at Regis College would provide me an exceptional
learning experience, enhancing my ability tomeet the needs of the “underprivileged
caregiver”.
There is an urgent need for educators and researchers to raise awareness regarding the
unmet needs of the rapidly growing older population with dementia and otherchronic
diseases who live in low and moderate income communities. In my practice, I see low income
dementia clients on high levels of antipsychotic medications, unsafe home environments,
limited diagnostic testing without medical intervention. As educators, we must educate our

2. clinicians to align with the low income family caregiver, providing primary care services, and
allocating government interventions to assist the caregiver.
As health care systems move to more community based models, the term “Health
Promotion”, will become more prevalent. As the number of cases of dementia increase, it will
become essential that healthcare educators provide the additional training to meet the needs
of the caregiver.
My work is geared to a low income care provider, or a “underprivileged caregiver”, who
has limited resources to meet the needs of the dementia client. As a result, the necessity for
an efficient teaching strategy toeducate health professionals on necessary resources has
become imperative, for those who have limited means to care for the dementiaclient.
Interestingly, the demographics pinpoint the “…underdeveloped regions of the world
people living longer, and having fewer children. High fat diets, smoking and sedentary
lifestyles are more common. Chronic non-communicable diseases linked to aging-heart
disease, stroke, cancer and dementia-are much more in evidence, and recognized as a public
health priority.” (Fuster & Voute, 2005). Not surprisingly, few studies have existed on
dementia beyond the prevalence, incidence and etiology of the disease. Limited attention has
been made regarding the impact of dementiaupon the family, socioeconomic class, in
relation to disability, caregiver strain and costs. (Ferr et al., 2005)
It will be paramount for our policy makers to bring attention and public awareness
regarding low income households and dementia care. “Evidence from population-based
research on ageing and dementia from low and middle income countries should help
stimulate a wider debate about older people’s health and social care needs” (LAMIC). Policy

3. holders can increase awareness among the general population through our educators geared
to health care workers. We still have far to go to educate the community. This lack of
awareness has led many to believe Alzheimer’s to be perceived as a normal and anticipated
part of aging. This general lack of knowledge has led to:
1. Little assistance in seeking formal medical care services for the low income caregiver.
2. Limited structured training on disease process and management of dementia at any
level of health services.
3. While families provide significant caregiving duties, they must function with limited
support network from the health care community.
Diagnosed cases of dementia are reaching epidemic proportions. Worldwide, nearly
35.6 million people live with dementia. Dementia affects all levels of society, however,
more than half (58%) are living in low and middle income environments. My mission is
to develop training modules that identify the low income caregiving needs and how
they differ from other dementia clients. For instance, the clinician needs to identify
the lack of diagnosis and appropriate diagnostic screening; in addition to lackof
primary medical interventions. “We need to increase our capacity to detect dementia
early and to provide the necessary health and social care. Much can be done to
decrease the burden of dementia”. (Mediacentre, 2012). We need to make dementia a
public health priority; through higher education we can build a curriculum that will
raise public awareness and reduce stigma of the disease.