Fund a Permanent Dementia Coordinator Position in Hawaii
Hawaii needs an advocate within state government to coordinate necessary state services for people living with and impacted by Alzheimer’s and all dementia. With 29,000 Hawaiians living with Alzheimer’s and 65,000 caregivers providing needed care to these vulnerable residents, we need to ensure the state government fully represents and serves all those impacted by this disease. With the legislature having already established the position in state law, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state government leaders to pass HB581/SB366 to fund the permanent dementia coordinator position to coordinate implementation of the Hawaii 2025 plan and lead future updates in addition to securing federal funding, and leveraging additional resources to better respond to Alzheimer's.
Increase Education on Early Detection and Timely Diagnosis
Currently, only 50% of those living with Alzheimer's disease receive a formal diagnosis. This needs to change. Educating clinicians, public health professionals and the public on the early warning signs of Alzheimer's and other dementias and the importance of a timely diagnosis is the first step in ensuring that anyone diagnosed with this disease can benefit from future treatments, care planning and clinical trials. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging legislators to support HB474/SB1032 to create a dementia screening pilot program to provide education on the importance of dementia screening and to provide screenings for eligible Hawaiians.
Hawaii State Plan Overview
In 2011 the Hawaii Executive Office on Aging, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, formed a special Task Force to develop a State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The task force included representatives from state agencies, care provider organizations, community organizations, faith communities, and research centers as well as advocates, long-term care providers, consumers, and elder law attorneys. In December 2013, the Office on Aging published Hawaii 2025: State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
In 2018, Governor Ige signed into law House Bill 1916, which mandates that the Executive Office on Aging update and bi-annually report to the state legislature and the Governor on the progress of the implementation of the Hawaii State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
Hawaii State Advocacy Day
March 04, 2021
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates for an exciting virtual advocacy day Hawaii’s state lawmakers to support people with dementia and their families. We will be having a informative and engaging virtual events with guest speakers to highlight the urgent need for a dementia coordinator position. Join us for storytelling, advocacy training and direct engagement with your state government representatives. More information will be coming soon!
