In 2013, the Georgia General Assembly established the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force through passage of Senate Bill 14 to research the impact of the disease and develop a strategy to mobilize the state response to the growing public health threat posed by Alzheimer’s. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, local health departments, research institutes, law enforcement, care provider associations, elder law, and community organizations as well as state legislators, caregivers, community members, and individuals directly impacted by Alzheimer’s. Building upon previous work completed by the Georgia Division of Aging Services, the Task Force solicited public input and drafted the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan. The plan was published in June 2014. 

Building off of the State Plan released in 2014, the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (GARD) Council released an update to the GARD State Plan in 2020. The updated State Plan contains goals for the state to provide necessary services and programs for Georgians affected by dementia and cognitive decline. Among the goals include strengthening research and data; enhancing efforts to develop a dementia-capable workforce; and improving service delivery for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Support Dementia Training for Court-Appointed Guardians

Dementia can significantly affect a person’s ability to make decisions, and in the absence of other advanced directives, people living with dementia may need the assistance of a guardian or conservator. Once appointed, a guardian may make decisions for the individual that relate to the person’s health, well-being and economic interest. With such responsibility, it is imperative that court-appointed guardians receive dementia training. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to update the guardianship statutes to require those who are serving people living with dementia to have dementia-specific training.