Codify the Dementia-Capable North Carolina State Plan 

Dementia State Plans provide a pathway for states to ensure the needs of their dementia population are being met. Without formal codification to require an updated State Plan every few years, policymakers will not be held accountable for establishing the infrastructure necessary to address the growing dementia crisis. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state legislators to pass legislation that formally codifies the Dementia-Capable North Carolina State Plan and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a State Alzheimer’s Coordinator position. This position will serve as a liaison between state agencies, the governor, the legislature, and private stakeholders to ensure the state has a coordinated and effective approach toward addressing Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

Incorporate Dementia in Existing Public Health Campaigns 

With 180,000 residents of North Carolina living with Alzheimer’s, information about the disease and North Carolina’s network of resources and services should be accessible and promoted throughout the state. In partnership with the Dementia-Capable North Carolina Task Force and Area Agency on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for legislation that will incorporate messaging on dementia and brain health into existing, relevant public health outreach programs. Messaging will include increasing awareness of early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and the importance of risk reduction, particularly in communities who are at greater risk of developing dementia. Outreach will also include education for health care providers on the importances of early detection and timely diagnosis, the importance of validated cognitive assessment tools, Medicare billing codes for individuals with cognitive impairment, and the value of annual Medicare wellness visits.