Page 53 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map

MARYLAND

Encouraging Advance Care Planning for People with Dementia

Maryland’s population of people with Alzheimer’s sessions, with a combined total of 144 participants.
dementia is projected to rise—from 110,000 people More than twice as many participants were able to
in 2018 to 130,000 in 2025, an 18% increase in eight identify core legal and financial advance planning
years. As the number of people with dementia rises, documents post-session (25%) as pre-session (10%).
so too does the need to assist families in planning for Also, a greater number of participants (post-session
future care needs. The passage of Maryland House compared with pre-session) reported understanding
Bill 1385 in May 2016 allowed the state to increase the importance of involving people with cognitive
advance care planning among families impacted by impairment in advance planning.
dementia. Among other mandates, the law directs the
Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to encourage The medical director of the MDH Center for Chronic
the use of electronic advance directives, develop Disease Prevention and Control served as a co-
an electronic platform to connect with healthcare chair (along with a representative from the Maryland
providers at point-of-care using the state-designated Department of Aging) of the governor-appointed
health information exchange, and conduct outreach to Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
increase public awareness of the Advance Directive Disorders Council during this time. The Council
Program. An early assessment found that advance monitors implementation of the Maryland State Plan
care planning in Maryland is offered primarily through on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.
hospitals and hospice providers, with limited free care- As a tenet of the Maryland State Plan, MDH used
planning services available through Maryland Legal this unique opportunity to engage partners to discuss
Aid and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Pro potential cognitive health education and establish
Bono Resource Centers. interventions in Maryland’s public health
programming. •
To increase advance care planning, MDH collaborated
with the Maryland Faith Health Network to lead a
year-long series of community engagement activities
on electronic advance directives. More than 500
Marylanders learned about advance care planning
through health fairs, faith-based events, and end-of-life
seminars. In addition, three local health improvement
coalitions hosted seven advance-planning educational Case Studies

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