Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Task Force Report Completed

In the 2013 legislative session, Special Act 13-11, An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, was passed. The task force, comprised of industry professionals, legislators, and state officials convened in September to begin their work with the mandate of providing recommendations to the legislature no later than January 1, 2014. Per statute, the task force was to be administratively staffed by Connecticut’s Legislative Commission on Aging. Debra Migneault, Senior Policy Analyst for the Commission filled this role.

According to the Act, “The task force shall analyze and make recommendations on the subject of Alzheimer's disease and dementia that shall include 1. services provided to persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia; including persons with early-state and early-onset of Alzheimer's disease, and such persons' family members and caregivers 2. legislative policy changes to better serve such persons, family members and caregivers;  3. coordination between state agencies and private community-based health care providers to serve such persons, family members and caregivers; 4.  case management services for such persons, family members and caregivers; 5.  the transition of such persons from one health care facility to another; and 5.  the placement of such persons in community-based settings or health care facilities other than nursing home facilities, when feasible.”

 As the report indicates, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s is staggering: an estimated 5 million people age 65 and older nationwide with approximately 70,000 in the state of Connecticut alone. The prevalence of the disease increases with age, with approximately one-third of the population age 85 and older diagnosed.

Due to the magnitude of the work involved in performing both an analysis and recommendations, the task force formed three area-specific subcommittees which met individually and ultimately reported back and made recommendations to the full task force. Those subcommittees were: Early Detection, Intervention and Planning; Quality Care, Service Delivery and Care Management; and Workforce Training and Development.

The full report, submitted to the legislature on December 31, 2013 may be accessed at http://www.cga.ct.gov/coa/pdfs/AlzheimersTF/AlzheimersTaskForceFINALREPORT.pdf.

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