Leading the way to end Alzheimer’s
Did you know that nearly seven million people in our country are currently living with Alzheimer’s Disease? While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, this type of dementia affects memory, thinking and behavior, eventually making typical day-to-day tasks difficult or impossible.
November is Alzheimer’s Disease awareness month, and Point32Health is committed to ending Alzheimer’s. Throughout the fall, our organization participates in various Walks and events to raise awareness and resources for Alzheimer’s care, programs and research that advances prevention and treatment. Over the past 12 years, Point32Health teams have raised nearly $2 million to support the work of the Alzheimer’s Association – check out just some of the ways our colleagues are doing their part to end Alzheimer’s Disease.
Point32Health & the effort to end Alzheimer’s
The Point32Health Foundation
Since 2012, Point32Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan (its predecessor foundations) and Care Partners of Connecticut, have given nearly $1 million in grants to the Alzheimer’s Association. The funds support work to destigmatize dementia and increase support for patients and families. Recent grants have expanded education and outreach, especially in communities of color.
Point32Health Foundation also has supported other dementia-friendly initiatives like Dementia Friends Massachusetts, Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, among others. Supporting these community initiatives is one way the Foundation advances its equity in aging focus.
By recognizing that a lifetime of inequities can exacerbate health disparities as people of color, people with disabilities and people who face systemic barriers grow older, the Foundation also addresses a growing unmet need and works with organizations to improve conditions for those bearing the greatest risks and burdens of inequitable systems.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Miniature Golf Tournament & Events
More than 1,600 colleagues, friends and family supported various fundraising efforts either by playing in our annual mini-golf tournament, attending virtual educational events, making donations and/or participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the states where colleagues live and work. In 2024, our team through these activities raised more than $80,000 to advance the work of the Alzheimer’s Association. With a match from Point32Health Foundation, more than $160,000 went to vital programming. The Point32Health team has been the #1 fundraising team in Massachusetts and New Hampshire since 2015.
Dementia Care Coordinator Program
Point32Health, through Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, was the first health plan in the region to operationalize a dementia care consultation program. To date, the Dementia Care Coordination team has served 4,400 members.
Dementia care consultants are licensed social workers who consult with primary caregivers or families to provide education about dementia, the disease process and what to expect, and talk through safety considerations, symptom management strategies and behavior management strategies. They help caregivers navigate to community resources including in-home care, adult day programs and alternative housing like assisted living facilities or long-term care if needed. The consultants support future planning by helping caregivers map out the next steps, and they can provide brief supportive counseling to help manage caregiver stress.
Through the products and services of Point32Health, our Foundation, colleague engagement and fundraising efforts, and awareness events, our organization demonstrates a commitment to the whole health of our member population and the communities we serve.