Sun Health has launched a Memory Care Navigator program, the newest offering in the Arizona nonprofit organization’s rapidly growing collection of community health programs.
Peoria’s Marty Finley, M.Ed. has been selected as the Sun Health Memory Care Navigator, who will provide personal and professional guidance to patients, family members and caregivers coping with the emotional, psychological and physical effects of dementia. The Navigator will prepare a plan of care individualized to their needs, and will serve as a liaison between patients and families, their physicians and ancillary community services.
Specifically, the Navigator is available to:
- Assess the needs of the patient and family and provide confidential consultation;
- Link patients and family members to education, support groups and assistive services in the West Valley;
- Be an ongoing resource for families and caregivers as new challenges arise through different stages of dementia;
- Educate patients and family members about available local clinical trials that they may discuss with their physicians; and
- Collaborate with and communicate recommendations to each patient’s physician.
“We want to provide a comprehensive resource that minimizes the stress of caring for a loved one with dementia,” Finley said. “A number of wonderful resources exist in the West Valley that can benefit dementia patients as well as their caregivers and families. We want to help people to be aware of these resources and take advantage of them.”
While local physicians can refer patients to the program, family members and other caregivers can also contact Finley directly. She can be reached at 623.832.9300. More information about the Memory Care Navigator program can be found at www.SunHealth.org/memorycare.
The program is offered at no charge to patients and their families, thanks to funds raised in the community through the Sun Health Foundation. Other nonprofit community health programs supported through the Foundation include Sun Health Care Transitions, Vial of Life and File of Life.
In addition, Sun Health will expand the free programming available through its Community Education series to include several seminars each month on topics related to brain health, dementia, and caregiver challenges. The monthly Sun Health Community Education lineup can be found by visiting www.SunHealth.org and clicking Community Education.
About Finley
Finley has a Master’s degree in Education, Counseling and Personnel Services (Gerontology) from the University of Missouri. She has been serving seniors in the Northwest Valley for more than 18 years. She has been a nationally certified care manager for more than 15 years.
Finley most recently was the community relations director for a memory care facility. She also served as family care consultant for The Alzheimer’s Association, worked as a care manager for the Foundation for Senior Living’s Catholic Outreach Center, and as a care manager for Benevilla.
“Marty has a proven background in dementia care and has a thorough knowledge of resources to assist patients and their families in the West Valley,” said Jennifer Drago, Sun Health’s vice president of business development. “Her combination of experience and compassion make her the ideal person to launch this program.”
About Sun Health
A long-standing community partner championing healthy living, Sun Health is a community-based health care organization providing pathways to Population Health through philanthropy, senior living, community programs and superior health care. Population Health is an approach that aims to improve the health of an entire population.
Nonprofit Sun Health has employed a variety of resources to develop healthy living programs that have the potential to enrich lives – for residents, patients, volunteers and donors. Its core service lines include:
- Philanthropy for local health care, community health programs and senior living,
- Senior living at The Colonnade (Surprise), Grandview Terrace (Sun City West) and La Loma Village (Litchfield Park), and
- Community Health Programs: Sun Health Care Transitions, Sun Health Medication Management, Sun Health Memory Care Navigator and Sun Health Community Education.
