Meadow Park in Catonsville to participate in NIH study on long-term care of residents with dementia

Meadow Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center is partnering with the University of Maryland's School of Social Work and Gilchrist in a National Institutes of Health and Aging (NIH) program which will study palliative care interventions for long-term care residents with dementia. Palliative care is a specialized medical model for people living with a serious, chronic or life-limiting illness.

"Skilled nursing facilities are a critical site of care for those with Alzheimer's and related dementias," said Nikki Gachot, regional director of market development for Marquis Health Consulting Services, which supports the facility. "Meadow Park is honored to partner with Gilchrist and UMD leaders, in their respective fields, in further enhancing support for those dealing with a dementia diagnosis."

The nursing facility in Catonsville recently launched its participation in the "Utilizing Palliative Leaders in Facilities to Transform Care for Alzheimer's Disease" (UPLIFT) Program. The UPLIFT Program will evaluate outcomes of palliative care to enhance quality of life and extending life expectancy of long-term care residents with a diagnosis of mild to severe dementia.

At Meadow Park, palliative care professionals from Gilchrist and the University of Maryland'sSchool of Social Work are working with the skilled nursing facility's clinical team to implement the program. Meadow Park plans to have about 40 long-term care residents participate in the UPLIFT initiative over the course of five years, Gachot said.

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