Page 13 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map

Ensure safety and quality of care: The challenges own well-being. In addition, public health can help
of caring for persons with Alzheimer’s and other improve the health and functioning of people living
dementias can become difficult and overwhelming, with dementia by assuring professionals delivering
especially when intensive care is needed for long healthcare and other types of care services use
periods of time. For many, however, caregiving is also evidence-based guidelines and have sufficient
a rewarding experience, bringing family members training. •
closer together in time of great need. Public health can
play a central role in offering information, guidance,
and supportive resources to caregivers to help them
provide effective dementia care and attend to their

Figure 2: Life Course Perspective on Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias and the Role of Public
Health Across the Entire Population 6

Early Detection

Reduction &

Risk PRE- Diagnosis

SYMPTOMATIC Safety
MILD &
COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENT Quality

HEALTHY of
COGNITIVE
FUNCTIONING DEMENTIA Care

Birth Death
Throughout the dementia continuum (shown in purple), the public health community (shown in blue) can intervene by
promoting health behaviors to reduce risk of cognitive decline, encourage early detection and diagnosis of cognitive
impairment and dementia, ensure the safety of those with memory issues, and improve the quality of care for those impacted
by dementia in their communities. These essential public health activities help reduce burden, improve health outcomes, and
promote health and well-being among both people living with dementia and their caregivers.

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