Michelle Branham, Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Discusses Caregiver Support

We were honored to interview Michelle Branham, the agency head for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, who has been at the forefront of advocating for and implementing caregiver support initiatives across the state. Secretary Branham sat down with Trualta to discuss the innovative programs, challenges, and future plans aimed at enhancing the well-being of caregivers in Florida.

Please tell us a little about the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) is committed to assisting seniors age in the place of their choosing for as long as possible. Although we are a small agency, we serve a giant footprint in Florida. We oversee the services and programs provided to the more than 6.3 million seniors in Florida. These programs include our guardianship program which oversees registration and processes related to public and private guardians; the State’s Ombudsman office which advocates for seniors in long-term care communities; SHINE which provides Medicare and Medicaid related counseling; the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative, and so much more.

We are also responsible for administering all the programs and services funded to states by the Older Americans Act as well as our general state funding. In addition to the federal and state services we provide, we are the only state unit in the country to have an Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, established by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Please tell us a little about your background.

I have more than 20 years of experience in public policy, public health, and public relations and more than a decade of senior executive experience in federal and state-level public policy initiatives including advanced healthcare and Florida senior initiatives. In December 2021, I was honored to be appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as the agency head for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Prior to my appointment, I served as Vice President of Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association for over nine years. During this time, I chaired the State of Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee and contributed as an Advisory Member for the State Plan on Aging Task Force. Additionally, I co-chaired the State Health Improvement Plan Alzheimer’s priority area and was appointed by Governor DeSantis to serve on his Safe and Limited Return Task Force during the public health emergency. I hold a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stetson University and a master’s degree in theological studies from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

We are always looking to highlight innovative programs related to caregiving. Can you please tell us about some of the ways in which you help family caregivers in Florida?

I am immensely proud of numerous innovative programs we offer throughout the state. One of our flagship initiatives, especially related to caregiving, is the Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence. This program serves as a pilot for comprehensive care, wraparound services, and family support for individuals in Florida affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Another program I’m proud of is our SHINE program, where senior volunteers assist their peers in navigating the intricate health insurance system. Their expertise proves invaluable, especially given the complexities and constant changes in Medicare and Medicaid.

Memory disorder clinics are unique to Florida too. We work closely with them and support their programs and services. Our 16 clinics statewide provide comprehensive services that include memory screening, assistance, education, and support for individuals and their families concerned about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Another noteworthy program is the Grandparent and Non-Relative Support Services, which assists individuals who serve as caregivers to children later in life. I deeply value the role grandparents play in stepping in to help raise families. It’s truly commendable and offers multigenerational wisdom to our younger Floridians.

What has been the most effective? Why?

Each of the aforementioned programs plays a vital role in advancing the Department’s overarching mission to promote the well-being, safety, and independence of Florida’s seniors, as well as their families and caregivers.

The Care Navigation program, through Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence (FACE), has been incredibly successful in supporting our state’s caregivers. FACE works closely with the clinical team at Navigating Aging Needs (we call it “NANCares”) to ensure that caregivers connect to the help they need. The outcomes of this type of support were measured, and it turns out that in our first year piloting the program, the NANCares protocol had quite an impact on our families. The program reduced the number of falls by 75% and hospitalizations by 68%. Fall prevention is important to caregivers who are caring for their loved ones. Reducing the risk of falls allows seniors to remain more independent. This innovative work was selected to present at the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference in Amsterdam in 2023. The work will continue to scale up and serve more people around the state.

The other tool I would like to mention that is incredibly successful is the Elder Helpline. There is no “typical” caregiving situation. Caregiving is as unique as the families themselves. The Elder Helpline is exactly what it sounds like, a caring place to start when you’re looking for help. You don’t have to know what service you’re looking for, and you don’t have to be an expert in caregiving to reach out. Through the Elder Helpline, we ensure that caregivers are directed to the right place when they need assistance. I can’t overstate how such a fundamental tool can simplify a space that can be so complex to navigate. This vital # is 800-96-ELDER.  

The Department has also initiated a Statewide Workshop Series for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) – our partners in the field, making us the only state in the country to offer such a series. The first workshop, held earlier this year, was titled “Pathways to Excellence: Building a Strong Foundation Through Shared Understanding.” The purpose of this first-ever workshop was to develop and enhance the AAAs’ business acumen in the areas of planning, operations, finance, and strategy. This special initiative offers best practices for the aging network, as the state’s evolving market and population needs continue to grow. This positions Florida as a model for mission readiness. We assist our partners with questions such as:

• Do they have the business acumen to succeed?
• Can they hire a workforce and deal with the supply chain?
• Do they feel equipped to deal with market forecast and analysis?

What do you see as the biggest current challenge facing Florida family caregivers?

One of the biggest challenges facing Florida family caregivers is caregiver burnout. Family caregivers often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, including providing care, managing household tasks, and often balancing a job and their own health. This can lead to high levels of stress, burnout, and feelings of isolation.

Florida faces a magnified challenge in this area because so often, people retire to Florida and move here without the lifelong friends, family, and sense of community they had at home. Instead of relying on friends and family for caregiver support, they must now turn to the Department and the community for resources.

Estimates show that more than 1,000 people move to Florida each day, and nearly a quarter of them are 60 and older. This means our state’s infrastructure must be able to serve more people. Our goal is to always keep new and existing Floridians happy, healthy, and aging well.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities to help Florida family caregivers?

One of the biggest opportunities we will continue to build on is increasing awareness, enhancing infrastructure to meet the needs and create greater efficiency. We need to also get families engaged in caregiving conversations at an earlier point in their loved one’s journey – and their own.  Caregiving can be costly for families. Adjustments might mean that a family moves to a home that has fewer stairs, or moves closer to their healthcare system, or learns how to reduce the primary caregiver’s workload. Most of these needs take months or even years of planning. So, it’s always best to share wishes early and with clarity. This helps alleviate debate among family members about what should come next. This stressful space is also where DOEA can really drive awareness and provide a robust set of tools to help families get started early. 

The growing demand for adult day care and respite services underscores the pressing need for a dedicated and enhanced workforce that can meet the needs of individuals requiring vital resources. As the necessity for such care continues to grow, it becomes increasingly imperative to cultivate and maintain a skilled and compassionate workforce capable of addressing the unique and evolving needs of those in our communities who are most vulnerable and in need of assistance. By prioritizing the development and retention of qualified professionals in this field, we can ensure that individuals in need receive the high-quality care and support they deserve, thereby enhancing their quality of life and promoting the well-being of our society as a whole.

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is the opportunity to serve and support Florida’s seniors, ensuring they receive the care and attention they deserve. Being able to make a positive difference in the lives of older adults, who have contributed so much to their communities over the years, brings me immense joy. Whether it’s providing resources, advocating for their needs, or simply lending a compassionate ear, serving our seniors is incredibly fulfilling and a blessing to me. There’s a deep sense of purpose in being able to contribute to the well-being and happiness of our senior population, because one day, hopefully, we’ll all get to be seniors, and we want all of our collective future to be bright and full of hope.