What does it really mean for a country to be “dementia friendly”?
above 7 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s diseased countless others. Suffer from other forms of dementia and cognitive impairment. As it becomes popular of Dementia and related diseases There is an ever-increasing number of ways to define dementia-friendly problems.
The latest Dementia Friendliness rankings highlight disease burden and end-stage dementia capacity, such as the number of memory care beds available. However, this definition is outdated and incomplete. Breakthroughs in early detection, disease-modifying treatments, and clinical trials are changing what it means to live with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. However, access to this progress depends greatly on national policies.
In a recent article in Health Affairs Forefront, I argued for a redefinition of dementia friendliness around state policies that enable early diagnosis, high-quality care, and community supports. Across the country, states are already leading the way by expanding the scope of biomarker testing, investing in the workforce, supporting caregivers, and coordinating care across the disease continuum.
You can read more here.
