In June 2014, the Montana Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Work Group was established as a grassroots collaboration with grant funding provided by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): Improving the Lives of Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Caregivers: A Patient-Centered Statewide Approach. The Work Group’s membership includes private sector stakeholders and state officials representing the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, who convene regularly to improve care and support for Montanans living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, their families, and caregivers. In December 2016 the Work Group published Montana’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia State Plan: Addressing the Current and Future Needs of Individuals and Families with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

Establish a Dementia Services Coordinator Position 

Numerous state agencies in Montana are working separately from each other to administer a variety of programs that are critical to Montanans with dementia and their families. This lack of coordination is hindering the ability of Montana to evaluate the effectiveness of policy efforts that serve those living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state policymakers to establish a full-time Dementia Services Coordinator position within the state government to coordinate the state’s response to dementia. The Dementia Services Coordinator will serve as a liaison between state agencies, the governor, the legislature, and private stakeholders to identify and address inefficiencies within dementia programs and services. With the number of people aged 65 or older in Montana expected to increase by 22.7% in 2025, the Dementia Services Coordinator position is crucial for ensuring the state has a coordinated and effective approach toward addressing Alzheimer’s.