Orlando, FL (February 8, 2005) --- The face of Alzheimer’s disease comes in many shades, representing people from various ethnic groups, spanning different ages and stretching across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. In Florida though, as too often is the case with other states, African-American faces are underrepresented at memory disorder clinics. In some cases making up only 4.3 percent of patients, compared to 14.6 percent of the state’s total population.

Local health care organizations want a different look for memory disorder clinics – a look that reflects the need for services. Share the Care, Inc., The Alzheimer’s Association for Central and North Florida and the Orlando Regional Memory Disorder Clinic received a grant from the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer’s Center & Research Institute to improve awareness and access to care for African Americans.

Together the organizations hosted The Memory Health Fair: Promoting Healthy Memory in January, at New Covenant Baptist Church in Orlando. Volunteers from the Orlando Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. helped coordinate the event. The fair offered participants a memory screening, a "brown bag" medication review, safe return registration for adults at risk of wandering and an educational workshop.

Workshop topics included how memory loss is diagnosed, care and treatment options, ways to manage daily activities and community resources. Based on memory screening results, participants will be referred to the Memory Disorder Clinic for diagnostic evaluation and follow-up visits with social workers from the clinic and the Alzheimer’s association to help find additional resources. By joining together for the project, the organizations hope to increase the number of African Americans enrolled in the memory disorder clinic, as well as the usage of support services and awareness of memory health.

"In researching for the grant, we found statistics that show Florida’s state designated memory disorder clinics have not been very successful at reaching the African-American community," said Mary Ellen Grant, Executive Director, Share the Care. "Of the 2,864 new patients evaluated at memory disorder clinics in Florida, from 2002 to 2003 (fiscal year), only 125 or 4.3 percent were African Americans, where as recent studies show African Americans represent 14.6 percent of the state’s total population. We believe there is a greater need for care and services."

Traditionally, patients are referred to memory disorder clinics by their primary doctors, Grant explains. However, research indicates African-Americans are less likely to use outpatient services such as memory disorder clinics, due to lack of health care access in general with low use of primary care doctors or other sources of medical care and income level.

"We need to try a different, more direct approach to reaching those in need in the African-American community," said Grant. "We plan to work with organizations in the community to visit churches, community centers and other places familiar to community residents."

Beyond helping the Central Florida community, the groups plan to use this experience to establish a template of strategies that work well to share with clinics in other communities seeking ways to reach out to the African-American community.

For additional information about participating in upcoming memory fairs, please contact Share the Care at (407) 423-5311 or email.

Orlando Regional Healthcare, a 1,640-bed private, not-for-profit organization was established in 1918. The hospital system serves more than 640,000 Central Florida residents and 4,500 international patients annually. As a community-owned organization, Orlando Regional reinvests its profits into many one-of-a-kind, specialized services like Central Florida’s only Level I trauma center and statutory teaching hospital. U.S News & World Report ranked Orlando Regional Healthcare as one of the nation’s best hospitals and Fortune magazine recognized Orlando Regional as one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in America. More information is available at www.orlandoregional.org.