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SALT LAKE CITY — While more baby boomers are reaching retirement age, the state of Utah has convened a task force to better coordinate care for Alzheimer's disease patients — a population that is expected to grow by 125 percent in the next 14 years.
Already, one in eight Americans over age 65 has Alzheimer's, a disease that affects the memory, abilities and brain functions of its recipients, eventually leading to death. It is the most common type of dementia and accounts for a disproportionate amount of the state health care budget, through Medicaid and the mental health system.
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
"It's a complex disorder that affects families and basic family structure, but also society as a whole," said Dr. Norman Foster, director of the University of Utah's Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research, and member of the Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force. "From my viewpoint, Utah isn't prepared to meet the challenges of Alzheimer's care in our communities."
He said a lack of communication has harmed care for patients, making it inaccessible and confusing in most cases, while also costing taxpayers.
"Huge advances have been made in our understanding of the disease," Foster said. "And while the current treatments are not all that good, we've come a long way from just expecting that the best care is having people restrained and in a closed ward without any social interaction."
The task force plans to visit various regions of the state to collect information from individuals of all walks of life who are dealing with Alzheimer's, as well as educate themselves on the many related issues that the state will inevitably face in the years to come.
During Thursday's meeting, Foster addressed statistics and the science behind the disease, also stressing that the state needs to focus its efforts on supporting families and encouraging involvement in care giving. The Alzheimer's Association reports that more than 132,000 Utahns are providing care to relatives who are Alzheimer's patients, saving the state more than $1.8 billion annually.
"We must assure that the full range of services are available, easy to access and are high quality," Foster said.
The 20 appointed members are representative of senior care services in the state, area agencies on aging, physicians, patients and caregivers, as well as state and local government, will recommend legislation that will likely lead to beneficial changes in care, including early diagnosis and prevention or delayed onset for many.
The public is encouraged to attend the next meeting of the task force on June 9 at the North Davis Senior Activity Center, 42 S. State, in Clearfield. Other meetings will be held July 7, in Logan; Aug. 18, in Price; Sept. 15, in St. George; and Oct. 13, in Salt Lake City.
"We can do something," said Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, also a task force member. "A good robust conversation will change things."
It is a multiyear process to develop a statewide plan, and Utah will be the 31st state to do so, with 18 to 20 states already having a published strategy to cope with the expected influx of Alzheimer's patients.
"We are pleased state policymakers voted to support the implementation of a state plan for Alzheimer's disease to address a broad range of related issues such as state support of research efforts, financing long-term care, expanding dementia-capable home- and community-based services," Jack Jenks, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's Utah Chapter, said.
The next meeting of the task force, to which the public is invited and encouraged to attend, is at the North Davis Senior Activity Center, 42 S. State, in Clearfield. Other meetings with locations to be announced, will be held July 7, in Logan; Aug. 18, in Price; Sept. 15, in St. George; and Oct. 13, in Salt Lake City.
The task force has until Nov. 30 to make a proposal, but plans on doing so, to the Utah Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting on Nov. 16.
Email:wleonard@ksl.com
