SURPRISE, ARIZ., June 7, 2017 – Sun Health has added a social services expert to its staff to help meet growing demands for its Memory Care Navigator (MCN) program. The service, provided at no charge, helps patients, family members and caregivers navigate the emotional, psychological and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Jane Harrison joins a program which served 277 clients in fiscal year 2016, a number the program is on pace to surpass this year. Since its inception in 2013, the program has helped more than 1,200 individuals, all served by Marty Finley, M.Ed., who up until now was the sole employee. The MCN program is funded through donations to Sun Health Foundation.
The additional support is not a moment too soon. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5.5 million Americans are living with dementia, a figure expected to rise to 8.5 million by 2030. Over the next 10 years, Arizona is expected to experience an exponential increase in Alzheimer’s cases because of its aging population.
Harrison brings 30-plus years of experience to the job, including 22 years at West Valley nonprofit, Benevilla, where she provided direct support to caregivers and residents of the West Valley. She later was promoted to senior director at the nonprofit.
Dementia and caregiving are two topics that Harrison knows intimately. Her mother has vascular dementia (the second-most common form of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease) and resides in a memory support community. Jane helped her late father take care of her mother in their home before the dementia advanced to the point where they could no longer meet her needs. Jane also was a caregiver for her father in the last six weeks of his life.
“Jane’s combination of experience and compassion make her an ideal fit for the program,” said Jennifer Drago, Sun Health’s executive vice president of Population Health. “She and Marty have worked together before and they both excel at helping people connect with community resources and clinical expertise.”
If you, or someone you know can benefit from the Memory Care Navigator program, call 623-832-9300 or visit www.sunhealth.org/memorycare
About Sun Health Foundation
Sun Health Foundation donors have supported superior health care in the West Valley for more than 50 years. The Foundation supports a variety of community wellness programs such as the Memory Care Navigator program. It’s also the exclusive philanthropic partner of Banner Boswell and Banner Del E. Webb medical centers To make a contribution or to learn more, go to www.sunhealthfoundation.org.
