The Caring Corner®
Dementia-Capable NC
Just a few days ago, the NC Alzheimer’s Task Force announced North Carolina’s first strategic plan addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.
The plan, framed using the guiding principles of “Dementia Friendly America”(launched in 2015 at the White House Conference on Aging) has the following five areas:
- Public Education and Awareness including early detection, public education, general awareness and advocacy.
- Workforce Development including training for professionals, paraprofessionals and direct care workers to enhance quality care or create efficiency.
- Care Transitions, which include integrated care, discharge planning and medical homes.
- Support for People with Dementia including consumer directed care, reaching-out to and respecting diversity.
- Caregiver Support including training, respite care, support groups and options counseling.
Alzheimer’s is NC’s 5th leading cause of death. It cannot be cured, prevented or slowed. There are an estimated 160,000 people in our state who have the disease. Raising awareness and having the right community resources in place is a critical step to providing care.
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