In 2013, Connecticut’s legislature passed Special Act 13-11, creating the state’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The Task Force met to develop and publish a list of recommendations in December 2013 in the Report of the Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The initial state plan focused on short-term goals to be completed over the course of three to five years. In January 2020, the Task Force published an update to the state plan, focusing on progress made, updating recommendations and expanding the role for the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Empower Home Care Staff with Dementia Training

Many of our most vulnerable residents living with dementia receive care and services in their home. The care needs of people living with dementia are unique and complex, and often pose challenges not experienced by other chronic conditions. An adequately trained home care workforce is imperative to providing quality and safe care to individuals with a cognitive impairment that may be experiencing memory loss, difficulty communicating, and aggressive behaviors. The Alzheimer’s Association urges state lawmakers to support legislation requiring four hours of dementia-specific training for medical and non-medical home care staff to increase the quality of care provided to individuals living with dementia who are receiving home and community-based services.