In 2012, the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter coordinated a meeting with Governor Jack Markell, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services Rita Landgraf, and Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) Bill Love to discuss the importance of mapping out a strategy to address Alzheimer’s disease in Delaware, including through the development of an Alzheimer’s state plan. The Alzheimer’s Association and DSAAPD established a Task Force of caregivers, advocates, and professionals representing a broad range of organizations. With support from DSAAPD staff, the Task Force published the Delaware State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in December 2013. Since the release of the Delaware State Plan, an Advisory Committee made up of a variety of stakeholders from the Alzheimer’s community has been meeting to oversee the Plan’s implementation.

Establish a Statewide Alzheimer’s Public Awareness Campaign

As Delaware’s population ages and the number of people with dementia grows, a robust public health response is needed to mitigate the future impact of the disease. It is critical that residents across the state understand the importance of brain health, risk reduction strategies and early detection and diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to establish a public awareness campaign on Alzheimer’s and other dementia to increase awareness among the public and health care providers with a focus on underserved communities.