What does it really mean for a state to be “dementia-friendly”?
Over seven million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and countless others suffer from other forms of dementia and cognitive impairment. As the prevalence of dementia and related diseases continues to rise, how we define dementia-friendliness matters.
Recent rankings of dementia-friendliness emphasize disease burden and late-stage dementia capacity, like the number of memory care beds available. This definition is both antiquated and incomplete, though. Breakthroughs in early detection, disease-modifying treatments, and clinical trials are reshaping what it means to live with Alzheimer’s and dementia – but access to this progress depends heavily on state policy.
In my recent piece for Health Affairs Forefront, I argue for redefining dementia-friendliness around the state policies that make early diagnosis, high-quality care, and community support possible. Across the country, states are already leading the way by expanding coverage for biomarker testing, investing in the workforce, supporting caregivers, and coordinating care across the disease continuum.
You can read more here.
