Date of Publication

1-24-2012

Abstract

Introduction: Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurological disorder that causes a progressive decline in motor, cognitive and psychiatric function. • HD affects 30,000 people in the USA. In Vermont it is estimated that 69 individuals have HD and 420 people are at risk for developing the disease. • Crescent Manor Care Centers is currently the only long term care facility in Vermont that houses Huntington’s patients. Patients receive care specific to HD including PT, OT, Speech Therapy and community activities. Currently, 13 of 40 beds are occupied. • There is one HD support group in the state located in South Burlington which meets once a month. Due to the low population of HD patients in the state, there is no single state government agency responsible for managing the care of HD patients.

Advisor(s)

Linda Martinez, RN, Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties

Jim Boyd, MD, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Agency

Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties

Subjects

Access to Health Services, Educational and Community-Based Programs, Health Communication and Health Information Technology, Nutrition and Weight Status, Public Health Infrastructure, Health-Related Quality of Life & Well-Being

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

Huntington’s Disease: Assessing The Needs of Patients and Caregivers in Vermont
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