RD326 - The 2016 Report of the Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission: Recommendations and Activities


Executive Summary:
Pursuant to Code of Virginia § 51.5-154, the Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission (Commission) must submit to the Governor, General Assembly, and Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) a report regarding the recommendations and activities of the Commission. The Commission, chaired by Courtney Tierney, develops and oversees the implementation of the Commonwealth's plan for meeting the needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and their caregivers.

VIRGINIA DEMENTIA STATE PLAN 2015-2019

Last year, the Commission issued an updated Dementia State Plan: Virginia’s Response to the Needs of Individuals with Dementia and their Caregivers 2015-2019. The revised plan includes a new focus on coordinated care through a network of memory assessment clinics and increased focus on connections to public health initiatives. The plan guides legislators, other public officials, health and human services professionals, advocates, and other interested people on best practices and specific strategies for dementia-focused data collection, care, training, and research.

The five goals of the Virginia Dementia State Plan are:

1. Coordinate quality dementia services to ensure dementia–capability,

2. Use dementia-related data to improve public health,

3. Increase awareness and create dementia-specific training,

4. Provide access to quality coordinated care in the most integrated setting, and

5. Expand resources for translational research and evidence-based practices.

Virginia’s Dementia State Plan, working in tandem with the National Alzheimer’s Plan, provides the best chance of responding to dementia and providing support to the estimated 140,000 Virginians with Alzheimer’s disease.