The Arizona Alzheimer’s Task Force was established in 2011 as a collaboration of the Governor's Office on Aging, the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Aging and Adult Services, the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, and the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter. The goal was to bring together a wide range of public and private stakeholders to develop a plan to address the growing number of Arizonans with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2015, the Task Force published the Arizona Alzheimer’s State Plan: A Framework for Action, which was developed through the cooperation of more than 100 community members.

Expand Clinical Expertise Using Project ECHO

A cornerstone of providing quality care is ensuring clinicians have access to the latest dementia-specific knowledge. However, many providers may not be aware of critical updates in dementia risk reduction and new Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment options that can slow disease progression. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to expand clinical education opportunities for providers in all 15 counties. By utilizing the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model, a telementoring program, the state can connect local providers with specialist teams, building expertise while reducing geographic barriers.