Page 37 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map
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credentialing or accreditation. A combination of
continuing education, practical tools and resources,
and community-clinical linkages have the potential
to shift standards of practice and cultural norms.
Important areas for education include: COMPELLING DATA
» Under-diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other » In a survey of 12 countries, 59% of
dementias as a problem; respondents incorrectly believed that
Alzheimer’s is a typical part of aging and
» Importance of and opportunities for early detection, 40% did not think it was fatal. 45
diagnosis, documentation of diagnosis, and care of
dementia (including the availability of the Medicare » Adults are reluctant to discuss cognitive
changes with a healthcare provider.
Annual Wellness Visit’s cognitive assessment
Over half (55%) of adults age 45 and
benefit, availability of services and supports after a
older who reported subjective cognitive
diagnosis, and the care planning billing code);
decline in the previous 12 months had
» Benefits of actively monitoring high-risk not discussed their symptoms with a
populations’ cognition, similar to monitoring of healthcare provider. 47 Among those
other chronic conditions in high-risk cases; whose memory problems were creating
functional difficulties, 42% had not
» Availability of resources including validated shared these issues with a provider. 46
clinical assessment tools, guidance and toolkits
» Physicians face barriers as well,
such as the KAER toolkits developed by the evidenced by the low rate of
Gerontological Society of America, online documentation of cognitive decline in
43
training such as HRSA’s Alzheimer’s Disease and medical records. Less than half of those
Related Dementias Curriculum and Caregiving with Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Curriculum, consultative support for making have their diagnoses documented in
44
accurate diagnoses, and community-based their medical records. 47,48
social services;
» Economic modeling shows that early
» Effective strategies to convey detection, diagnosis, diagnosis can greatly reduce healthcare
and resource referral information in ways that costs across the nation, particularly
through reduced hospitalizations
are culturally-appropriate, candid, clear, and
compassionate for different populations; and and better management of chronic
conditions—potentially up to $64,000 per The Action Agenda
» Importance of using support systems for healthcare person with dementia. 1
professionals because disclosing dementia
diagnoses can take an emotional toll. • III.
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