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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska care plan for residents living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease has been released.
Clayton Freeman, regional director of programs for the Alzheimer's Association, says the plan's goals include identifying in the next two years a standard assessment for state doctors to use at annual Medicare wellness visits, and to educate people on the benefits of requesting the assessments.
Freeman said physicians need help educating and referring patients to appropriate service, and understanding the variety of diagnostic tools that are available. He also said more neuropsychologists, geriatric doctors and assessment centers are needed in the rural areas of the state.
The plan also calls for promoting and directing informal caregivers to free training options. It also wants to make legal and financial support available to patients and their families.
The plan was released Tuesday, six months early, and is to be presented to Gov. Pete Ricketts, The Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/292qyKq ) reports.
Other recommended actions include creating adult day services and respite care, getting dementia training for first responders and identifying telehealth mental services and cognitive assessments in rural Nebraska.
Implementing the Find Your Way program to help people who wander and promoting the Alzheimer's Association's medic alert program has also been recommended.
State Sen. Al Davis is studying the idea of creating a silver alert system, like the current Amber Alert system, to locate adults whose health and safety are at risk while missing.
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
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