Orange County Vital Aging Program: A Community-Based Approach To Reduce Impact of Alzheimer's Disease on Health Care Resources (P07.163)

Objective: The Orange County Vital Aging Program (OCVAP) was established to implement the roadmap, developed by the Leon Thal Symposium (LTS), as a community-based educational effort, combined with public and professional tools to assess risk factors, functional capacity, cognition and affect. OCVAP has evolved into a coordinated community program, reaching the at-risk population, physicians, and relevant healthcare organizations. Background The LTS convened an international panel of experts to develop a roadmap to Prevent AD by 2020. The roadmap envisioned a coordinated educational program at national and local levels, focusing on managing risk factors, monitoring cognition and function, and enabling early diagnosis and treatment. Design/Methods: OCVAP has implemented 7 key components: 1) public relations and educational campaign; 2) educational web site with self-assessment tools for the public; 3) community cognitive screening services; 4) objective cognitive assessment tools for physicians; 5) network of community physicians trained to deliver proper ADRD healthcare; 6) expert physician panel to guide the physician community; and 7) outcome analyses. Results: During the first year: 1) over 1000 individuals attended public and professional educational seminars; 2) the public took over 2,400 self-assessments at OCVAP9s website; and 3) 821 participants took the community cognitive screening service, which identified a 24% prevalence of mild cognitive impairment. Coordinated follow-up of impaired participants is a key challenge being addressed by OCVAP9s participating physician network. In response to emerging needs, OCVAP9s expert panel created clinical guidelines for community physicians, plus links to physician support services and resources. Conclusions: Changing public and physician behavior to achieve a more proactive approach to ADRD healthcare is a substantial, yet achievable challenge that requires a well-coordinated effort among a variety of medical and non-medical professionals, institutions, community-based organizations, and public advocates. Successful implementation of OCVAP will provide useful knowledge for similar programs. Supported by: This program is made possible by a generous grant to the Hoag Neurosciences Institute from the UniHealth Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization whose mission is to support and facilitate activities that significantly improve the health and well being of individuals and communities within its service area. Disclosure: Dr. Shankle has received personal compensation for activities with Medical Care Corporation, Forest Pharmaceuticals, and Baxter Neuroscience. Dr. Shankle and his spouse hold stock and/or stock options in Medical Care Corporation. Dr. Hara received personal compensation for activities with Medical Care Corporation as its employee. Dr. Brant-Zawadzki has nothing to disclose. Mr. Fortier has received personal compensation for activities with Medical Care Corportation as an employee. Dr. Holnagel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Keeble has nothing to disclose. Dr. Guillen Nguyen has nothing to disclose.