Maryland's dementia-capable CHW project - the maryland dementia-capable community health worker (CHW) project aims to enhance the area agency on aging's (aaas) workforce capacity to increase and…

Award Overview

The Administration on Aging, under the Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative (ADPI, CFDA 93.470), awarded a $749,814 cooperative agreement to Mac, Incorporated effective September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2028. The Maryland Dementia-Capable Community Health Worker (CHW) Project, led by Mac Inc.'s Living Well Center of Excellence in partnership with Central Maryland Area Health Education Center (CMAHEC), the Regional Health Information Exchange (CRISP), and the Maryland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, enhances Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) workforce capacity to deliver person-centered dementia services. The project establishes three county-based CHWs trained in dementia care, community-based service navigation, evidence-based interventions, and aging network protocols to provide early detection and care navigation services for 700 caregiver-person living with dementia (PLWD) dyads through a closed-loop clinical-community referral network.

Deliverables and Expected Outcomes

Key project products include replicable, state-certified, and dementia-capable continuing education programs for CHWs and a comprehensive implementation toolkit documenting best practice policies, procedures, workflows, and project findings. Expected outcomes target reduced caregiver burden, depression, and social disconnection; decreased emergency department visits and hospitalizations for PLWD; and increased availability of caregiver support services. An independent evaluation by a nationally-recognized program implementation researcher will assess project impact and establish a national return-on-investment model for embedding CHW services within AAAs, supporting future sustainability and scalability of dementia-capable service delivery across aging networks.

Maryland's dementia-capable CHW project - the maryland dementia-capable community health worker (CHW) project aims to enhance the area agency on aging's (aaas) workforce capacity to increase and enhance access to person-centered dementia services for family caregivers and persons living with dementia (plwd). The project will be led by the MAC INC. Living well center of excellence (lwce) in partnership with central maryland area health education center (cmahec), the regional health information exchange (crisp) and the maryland chapter of the alzheimer's association. Objectives include: 1) establish a cadre of three county-based chws with specialized dementia, community-based service navigation, evidence-based intervention, and aging network training; 2) provide early detection and engagement in dementia care for 700 caregiver/plwd dyads by leveraging a robust "closed loop" clinical-community network of resources and referrals and medicare dementia guide model navigation; and 3) evaluate the impact of project interventions on plwd, caregivers, and chws to facilitate the sustainability and scalability of best practices. Outcomes include: 1) increased availability and delivery of caregiver support services; 2) reduced caregiver burden, depression, and social disconnection; 3) reduced risk for emergency room visits and hospitalization for plwd; and 4) establish a national model for demonstrating return on investment (ROI) for embedding CHW services within aaas. Products include: 1) replicable, state-certified and dementia-capable continuing education programs for chws; and 2) an implementation toolkit sharing best practice policies, procedures, and workflows along with project results and lessons learned. An independent evaluation will be conducted by a nationally-renowned program implementation researcher and certified CHW instructor.