When Dori Alger joined Butler Hospital's Memory and Aging Program (MAP) two years ago, she stepped into a role that never existed before. As MAP's first-ever clinical social worker, Alger brought decades of experience and a passionate commitment to improving the quality of life for patients and families facing Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders.
"I've been in social work my whole adult life," Alger reflects. Her career has spanned work with developmentally disabled and psychiatric patients, nursing home residents, and now the MAP clinic. Through it all, Alger has been drawn to "populations that are really looking for help and direction and to improve their quality of life."
The Role of a MAP Social Worker
At MAP, Alger wears many hats. She meets with patients and families to facilitate difficult conversations about the future, connect them with resources, and provide emotional support during challenging transitions.
- Facilitating Conversations:
Alger encourages families to discuss advance directives, living arrangements, and other key issues early on.
"I think it's so important for them to be a part of the decision-making while they can," Alger explains.
- Resource Connection:
Navigating the maze of care options and resources can be overwhelming for patients and caregivers alike. Alger's extensive knowledge of local facilities and programs allows her to offer personalized guidance.
"There’s not one particular plan of care or place that is going to be right for everyone," she notes. "So, it’s really important to provide a few options to consider and give them some direction based on what they're looking for. Finances also play a role in the selection process, which is unfortunate, but it’s the reality. So, I help people to consider all those factors."
- Emotional Support:
While practical support is crucial, Alger emphasizes emotional support is equally important. She recalls a recent interaction with a patient who was devastated about losing her driver's license.
"If you walk away from that and not get emotional, then you're in the wrong field," Alger reflects. In these difficult moments, she focuses on helping patients find new ways to maintain independence and engage in meaningful activities.
Alger also works closely with caregivers, who often struggle with guilt and stress. She facilitates separate meetings when needed to allow frank discussions of challenges. Support groups and educational resources are other key tools she offers to help families cope.
Collaboration with the MAP clinical team is central to Alger's role. She reviews incoming patients daily and introduces herself to everyone who visits the clinic. The nurse practitioners and doctors frequently refer patients to Alger for additional support and resource connections.
Hope for the Future
One unique aspect of Alger's work at MAP is discussing brain donation with study participants. While it may seem like a sensitive topic, Alger has found many families are open to the idea of contributing to research that could help future generations. As one patient's son told her, "Nothing would give me greater joy than if somebody was doing an autopsy on my dad and got an ‘aha’ moment, and it was my dad."
This spirit of hope in the face of a devastating disease is what drew Alger to MAP in the first place.
"I would like to see a cure for cancer and a cure for Alzheimer's in my lifetime," she shares. "I think we're moving in the right direction," she notes. "We all just wish it would come a little sooner."
In the meantime, Alger remains committed to supporting patients and families however she can - even beyond her official duties.
"There isn't anybody that I won't see or talk to," she says. Whether it's helping with complex Medicaid applications or simply offering a listening ear, Alger's compassion shines through in everything she does.
As MAP's inaugural social worker, Dori Alger has shaped a role that is now indispensable to the program's patient-centered approach. Her blend of practical expertise and heartfelt empathy provides a beacon of support for those navigating the difficult journey of memory loss and cognitive decline.
In Alger's capable hands, MAP patients and families find not just resources and guidance but also understanding, dignity, and hope.
