Empower First Responders with Dementia Training
Police officers, paramedics and firefighters have frequent interactions with individuals who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias in a variety of settings and often in crisis situations. Many of these professionals have little or no formal training to prepare them for the unique physical, behavioral, and communication issues related to dementia. Without proper training on how to recognize the signs of dementia and how to effectively communicate with people with dementia, situations may escalate quickly with potentially dangerous consequences. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on legislators to support forthcoming legislation in Minnesota that will provide funding for dementia-specific training for first responders.
Increase Education on Early Detection and Timely Diagnosis
Early detection of dementia and Alzheimer’s means individuals receive better medical care and health outcomes and can plan for future needs, secure medical desires and make their wishes known. Approximately 50% of people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias never receive a formal diagnosis. Additionally, there is evidence that African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos with dementia are less likely to have a diagnosis than whites, even though they are 1.5 - 2 times more likely to have the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on legislators to support forthcoming legislation in Minnesota that will create a public awareness campaign that promotes the benefits of early detection and diagnosis and the importance of discussing cognition with a health care provider. Campaign messages will be specifically designed to reach underserved communities.
Minnesota State Plan Overview
In 2017 the Minnesota Legislature (2017 Session Law) called on the Minnesota Board on Aging to reconvene the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group (ADWG) to review and revise the 2011 report, Preparing Minnesota for Alzheimer's: the Budgetary, Social and Personal Impacts. The ADWG was appointed in late 2017 and met throughout 2018. Like the first work group created in 2009 when the Minnesota Legislature first charged the Minnesota Board on Aging to create a plan, this working group made recommendations for policies and programs that would prepare Minnesota for the future. The 2018 work group was led by a Minnesotan who is living with mild cognitive impairment and included health care providers, family caregivers, researchers, representatives from state and local health and human services agencies. The ADWG gathered expert research and background information and solicited input from the general public. The Alzheimer's Disease Working Group Legislative Report was published in January 2019 and presented to the Minnesota Legislature.
Minnesota State Advocacy Day
March 17, 2022
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates for this innovative advocacy series, providing the information, training and tools you need to urge Minnesota’s state legislators to support policies that will help those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Over the course of several days, we will release a series of videos and hold live events to prepare you with information and training to help us advance our policy agenda. We will also provide you with tools and opportunities to connect with state government leaders on priority policy issues.
