Ensuring adequate access to home and community-based services (HCBS), improving care coordination, and streamlining the delivery of care for individuals living with dementia will mitigate the long-term impact on state budgets and improve the lives of those affected by this devastating disease. State policymakers can take action by:

• Creating or enhancing a statewide system to detect, diagnose, treat, and provide care coordination for individuals living with dementia.
• Creating or enhancing statewide programs that provide direct support to informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia.
• Requiring dementia-specific training for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical technicians, guardians, Adult Protective Services, and Long-Term Care Ombudsmen.